When Auckland couple Karen and John began creating their garden in 2004, their first challenge was to remove the bamboo that bordered the property.
They cut it back and took it to the elephants at the zoo – cut it back again and again. In the end it all had to be dug out and when that job was complete there wasn’t much left but an oak, a pawpaw and a nikau palm.
The advantage was it gave them carte blanche to put in place the lush, subtropical garden that now surrounds their elegant, old home. In previous gardens, they’d been going down the route of magnolias and the like – Karen wanted a bit of everything – but advice from landscape designer Cilla Cooper sent them along a different path.
“She came and looked at the place and said, ‘No, go for one main thing,’” Karen says. “We knew subtropicals would work in this climate, so that’s what we decided on.”
The next major challenge was to find soil. The property was mostly clay and virtually all the soil needed for the new design had to be trucked in. Karen and John were very disciplined in making sure the structure of the garden was in place before planting started and this included having a water feature constructed on the advice of a feng shui expert.
“I went out and bought an urn and a pump, but that wasn’t what she meant. Now we have this,” John laughs, pointing to the very large stone feature running alongside the lawn. The feature was constructed from local stone by a team of stonemasons and John and Karen are delighted with it.
Each stone has been carefully placed to create symmetry and the water splashes into the pool from three lovely old pavers set into the wall. At the end of the garden furthest from the house, one of two massive timber arches marks the transition from the more formal part of the garden to the vibrant, subtropical plantings below.
The arches are built from old timber bridge beams sourced from a freezing works and their scale echoes the proportions of the house. Although John considered growing climbers on them, in the end he decided to leave them unadorned.
Around the house, flat lawns have been created, bordered by small pavers and plantings of mondo grass. Narrow trees and shrubs have been used to soften the walls on the street side.
From the front lawn, gently sloping paths wind their way through the casual area of the garden, which boasts an extensive collection of subtropical plants. John and Karen have their favourite nurseries and gardens they use for inspiration, which include Landsendt in the Waitakere foothills and Russell Fransham Subtropicals at Matapouri Bay, among others.
Cuttings and plant gifts from friends also feature and Karen is always “re-homing” pot plants into the garden during the warmer months to see if they’ll survive. Most do. Succulents, ornamental gingers, bananas, pawpaw, bromeliads, hibiscus, dragon trees, palms, figs and a deep purple Brugmansia are just a few of the feature plants here, and they’re cleverly showcased.
In some areas, they’re mass planted for dramatic effect, in others Karen, who has worked in mosaics, has used them in mosaic patterns to give a little breathing space. The garden, like most, is an ongoing project.
The evening walk with a glass of wine is a time to note spaces that could be filled with something new and exciting, and, of course, an opportunity to admire the flowers, berries and foliage in this subtropical oasis.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
