Rata & Smudge

13/10/2026

11/10/2026

🌸🌿 6 DAYS TO GO – TEVIOT GARDEN TOUR! 🌿🌸

Well, it’s all go here at The Forever Garden! 😂

We’ve been flat out shearing sheep, gardening, tidying, pruning and burning a mountain of sticks and garden rubbish. The bonfire was certainly impressive! 🔥

Meanwhile, Mother Nature has been doing her bit. The blossoms are bursting into flower, the garden is coming alive and things are looking pretty good!

Even the birds are getting into the spirit of things. 🐦 Our resident bellbird, Adam, is still busy romancing himself in the mirror (he clearly thinks he’s quite the catch! 😂), and today we had a beautiful kererū (wood pigeon) enjoying the kōwhai.

Now we’re crossing everything for a good week of weather. A little rain to freshen everything up would be lovely, but nothing too enthusiastic please! 🤞☀️

🌸 SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER | 10am–4pm

We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone who’s coming along on the Teviot Garden Tour. It’s our first time opening The Forever Garden for the tour, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Follow the balloons for parking

🎟️ Don’t forget your garden tour tickets!

Available from 9am on the day at:
🌿 Teviot Community Market, Roxburgh
🌿 Millers Flat Bakehouse
🌿 Feinerman’s General Store

💚 And if you’re not doing the garden tour but fancy stocking up on your Rata & Smudge Herbal Hugs, I’ll be open on the front deck from 10am–4pm. Pop in, say hello, have a sniff and explore some botanical goodness!

It’s been a busy time getting everything ready, but seeing the garden come to life makes it all worthwhile.

Six days to go… bring on the sunshine, the blossoms and some lovely familiar and new faces! 🌸💚

Fiona
The Forever Garden | Rata & Smudge

30/09/2026

How exciting is this!!!!???? We are! 💜🌸💜

27/09/2026

Alexandra Blossom Festival
A huge thank you too to the organisers, volunteers, stallholders and everyone behind the scenes who created such an incredible festival. What a mammoth job — and what a success.

Alexandra, you were bloody marvellous. 🌸😂
Thank you for supporting this little local business of mine.

🌿 Rata & Smudge
Herbal Hugs from Central Otago 💜

22/09/2026

💜💜💜💜💜💜10-4pm💜💜💜💜💜💜

🌸 WE’RE BACK AT THE ALEXANDRA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL! 🌸

Bev - my favourite little pocket rocket helper and I are so excited to return this weekend with a stall full of beautiful Rata & Smudge Herbal Hugs 💚

You’ll find us at STALL 68—I’ve marked the map so you can come straight to us!

Pop in to:

🌿 Discover our herbal remedies
🌸 Smell, sample and explore the range
💛 Find the perfect Herbal Hug for sleep, stress, skin, breathing, aches and everyday wellbeing
🛍️ Refill your old favourites or discover something completely new
👋 Have a chat and say hello to Bev and me!

Whether you’ve supported Rata & Smudge for years or have never met us before, we would absolutely love to see you. Bring a friend

📍 Alexandra Blossom Festival
🌼 STALL 68
💚 Look for Rata & Smudge!

Come and tell us what kind of Herbal Hug you need—we’ll help you find it 🌿✨

20/09/2026

Te Puna Mahara - Meet The Maker Series: Rata & Smudge 🌸

Handcrafted here in Central Otago, Rata & Smudge is herbal apothecary creating handcrafted botanical remedies for sleep, stress, skin health, wellness and self-care. A balm to help your mind and body with those restless nights, or a bo**er balm for cold winter mornings to relieve your congestion, among other things.

Fiona Ross has a strong focus on locally foraged and thoughtfully sourced botanicals that reflect the landscape, seasons, and spirit of the Central Otago region. Her business is known for their distinctive Central Otago saffron petals and blue lotus blends, bringing together provenance, creativity and traditional plant wisdom in every product.

Come on into our retail space here at Te Puna Mahara and our lovely team will help you find what you’re after.

20/09/2026

How lovely is this! 🌸Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre

I’m so excited and genuinely grateful to have Rata & Smudge included in the beautiful retail space at Te Puna Mahara. It means so much to see my Herbal Hugs sitting alongside the work of other wonderful local makers.

A huge thank you to their lovely team for welcoming Rata & Smudge and sharing the story behind what I create. If you’re nearby, pop in for a browse and discover something locally made with plants, purpose and plenty of love. 🌿💛

19/09/2026

Sitting here listening to the storm raging outside tonight, I’m feeling very grateful it didn’t arrive this morning! 🌧️🌬️

A huge thank you from me and Rata & Smudge to everyone who stopped by my stall at the Teviot Community Market today! 🌿💛

It was so lovely seeing familiar faces, meeting new people and having plenty of wonderful chats in the sunshine—even with those cheeky gusts of wind keeping us busy!

A special thank you to everyone who helped hold down marquees and jumped in to help others. We really do have the best little community. ☀️

02/09/2026

🌿 THIS is another why I do what I do ❤️

I opened up Jennifer’s review and honestly… what a message to receive.

Her husband has lived with a cough for 36 YEARS, and this is what she had to say about her experience with our Mullein Drops and Mullein Tea.

I don’t make promises about what herbs will do for any individual person — every body is different — but hearing experiences like Jennifer’s absolutely makes my day.

Thank you Jennifer for allowing me to share this. ❤️

Plants are clever… we just put them together. 🌿