Cottleways Straight

26 May 2012

Claire and Peter Walker
'Cottleways Straight'  
508 Cambridge Road
Bethlehem

Claire & Peter Walker have a garden that is worthy of a Michelin star. Starting with a bare plot of land c.15 years ago, this husband and wife team have worked whole heartedly to create a garden with space for everyone. 

Imagine a picture perfect lawn for children to frolic barefooted, a vegetable garden that feeds the neighbourhood and ensures strawberries are on tap for the summer, fruit trees to savour through the year, daffodils in spring, the glorious scent of a majestic Peaches & Cream Wisteria, beautiful roses, a love seat, trees for the Tui, a bird bath for lunchtime entertainment, formal lines softened by colour and ramble. Her once bare plot now shows the maturity of time, yet many of her plants started their lives as humble cuttings. 
It would be impossible to imagine if it weren’t for the photos she shared with us of those early days.  This is a garden that tells a story, the story of Claires family, grandchildren and friends.  There is the tree the children climbed one summer when visiting from abroad, the bonsai being cared for on behalf of Claire’s son and the three Kauri he insisted she plant, the red plant tucked discreetly in a corner as it is Peter’s favourite but not Claires! 

The trusses and pergola’s designed by Claire and built by Peter, the lawn which celebrated a marriage and solemnly honoured a loved one. Kind and generous of heart, Claire impressed as a seasoned professional with a desire to see young gardeners be inspired and enjoy the journey of building and caring for a garden.  If ever there was a garden to be inspired by this is it, afterall Claire will tell you, you don’t need to buy 5 of this and 7 of that, by using cuttings and dividing plants, you can create a garden that is truly a pleasure to behold. 

The nitty gritty…… Claire spends a couple of days in the garden 6-9 months of the year, her philosophy is simple rather straightforward if it’s not growing cut it out!  A decision oriented gardener Claire doesn’t worry about taking tree’s out or moving plants about and as for ‘space’ she is definitely a fan.  Space can be great she says, and it doesn’t grow as fast! As for weeds her approach is again straightforward, if you don’t have them you don’t get them. So this sensible Gardener has relentlessly pulled and picked weeds whenever she has seen them and now by and large does not get many at all.  When it comes to cuttings, there is no great need for growth hormones, Claire simply dip’s her cuttings in honey or Willow tea and watches them flourish. For the novice gardener, Claire brings a refreshing and enjoyable approach to establishing and moulding a garden for everyone. Inspired? Absolutely!

Becks






Then of course there was the traditional coffee and debrief, which we had at Coffee at Villaridge www.villaridge.co.nz. Thanks Megan for organizing this G3 outing.