Lawrie Metcalf was born in Christchurch, and has had a strong interest in native plants and their cultivation since his high school days. It was that interest which led him into a career in horticulture and park administration. After experience in various establishments, both in New Zealand and overseas, he became Assistant Director of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and then Director of Parks and Recreation with the Invercargill City Council. Upon his retirement, he and his wife moved to the Nelson area where they established a large garden in which native plants play a prominent part. In 1991, he was awarded the Veitch Gold Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society in the United Kingdom, and in 2010, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for services to horticulture.