Homewood Gardens

1 December 2011

Homewood Gardens

John and Milenka Holwerda

55 Pukakura Rd, Katikati

www.homewoodgardens.co.nz/index.html

$8, incl coffee and brownie inside Milenka’s gorgeous old home

Right from the outset, it was obvious Milenka Holwerda’s garden in Katikati was going to be a jaw-dropper. We parked under avocados, and stood in front of two pillars naming the property, catching glimpses of a divine old homestead and bushels of neatly clipped greenery. Michelle just about hyperventilated.

As we rounded the property’s curved entranceway, the landscape opened out before us – a giant sweep of lawn framed by ornamental trees, drawing the gaze to a distant inner harbour view.  

Milenka’s garden was expansive, but she had divided it up into distinct segments: a wild garden of stonefruit trees under-planted with poppies, daffodils and jonquils; a long tunnel with roses rambling overhead; a garden pavilion in front of which she plans to build a long reflection pool; a sturdy swing which hung over a carpet of blooms (no more mentions of the swing as per Sheila’s request!). 


Her daughter Sofia and grand-daughter Lucia joined us. Sofia had been married at the bottom of the garden, on a pontoon built over the water and draped with chiffon.

The vegetable garden boasted bountiful purple cabbages and wonderfully messy artichoke beds. Donna stepped forward: “I’m a vegetable girl,” she said, or something to that effect.

Bay Tree in the vegie patch

The vege patches were rimmed with buxus hedging but Milenka advised against following suit as the roots of the hedge could be found in the middle of the garden. Although it was gorgeous, I also wonder how practical it would be when you’re trying to sow little carrots or garlic seedlings and having to bend over the spiky little hedge. That said, there’s no denying how elegant it looked.

For some of us it was a surprise to see the delicate Queen Anne’s lace, which looked suspiciously like a familiar weed, talking pride of place near the bi-fold kitchen windows. 

Milenka does wedding floristry and had an impressive knowledge of plant varieties and how best to care for them. She also seemed to favour organic remedies and suggested diluted skim milk (1 litre skim milk to 5 litres water) to combat something-a-rather on thingamebobs. 

The Cottage

The cottage, where Sofia and family live, was the realisation of one of my childhood dream about living in a white cottage surrounded by perennials and soaking in the perfume of it all on a summer’s evening. I walked around with my jaw open and a faint aching in my heart that my darling Dave wasn’t some ambitious dairy farmer-turned-orchardist like Milenka’s husband. To say that I want to live in that house is an understatement. I actually think I belong there. 

Its mine all mine!

Milenka’s father is an architect and he designed a ballroom for the front of the property. It was painted Karen Walker for Resene’s Robin Egg Blue. 

We finished with coffee and brownie in the exquisite dining room of the exquisite house. It felt like a close encounter with perfection. 

Favourite part of the garden: the white garden. A weather-worn table and chairs sat inside a courtyard of old bricks and pavers. A high hedge framed luscious white rose bushes and there were some interesting small plants growing underneath (Michelle to supply names).

Other favourite bits: the wild garden (I imagine in season it’s exquisite), the pool area with its outdoor fire and deep pool, the silkwood on the front lawn and the original kauri homestead itself – a stunning “farmhouse” which dates back to 1876.

Best tip: plan an outdoor wedding on a full moon for more settled winds!


Keri