Using willow sourced from his Kakanui property, Mr Lilian has been creating some basketry garden structures, including a live potager garden and a screen, with plans also for some seating.
The aim was to show people how they could create practical yet beautiful woven structures which fitted into their flower and vegetable gardens.
Mr Lilian, who believed the gardens were an exciting concept, has been busy lately making kitchen baskets - and caskets.
Woven caskets were "quite big" in Europe and it was starting to take off in New Zealand.
He had about a dozen in stock and a dozen had "been and gone".
One woman was using her casket as a coffee table until it was required.
It was like making a big picnic basket, except it was a different shape, Mr Lilian said.
Gardens co-ordinator Annie Beattie said it was "fabulous" to have him on the site.
"I love the texture of the willow and the colour," she said.
