Europe in Maungatapu

30 August 2012

Marg Mills

Maungatapu, Tauranga

Marg met us at the top of her expansive waterfront property and explained she’d grown up on a farm and had four large gardens, so it was essential to find a large city section when they moved to town.

The home was originally built by the owners of the Roberts concrete company and by the time Marg and her husband took over, the gardens were a busy collection of single plants splayed out across parts of the sprawling grounds.

The previous owner had the garden watered via a computer system and extensive weedmat.

With the expert guidance of a designer friend, Marg set about transforming the hillside property. Where once there was a bank sporting “one of everything”, there is now a field of agapanthus dotted with magnolia.  

Rosemary hangs over the driveway, which wends down beneath the home. The privacy is striking: it’s hard to believe this home is just 6km from the city centre. The steep ¾ acre section, large retaining walls and a semi-abandoned neighbouring property create a real sense of privacy.

Marg said her one true discovery throughout the years was to plant en masse. So the garden was edged by a wide and deep pool of star jasmine. Marg’s drifts are not 5 or 7 plants, but 45 or 50.

The southern European feel is enhanced by a ficus snaking around an outside mirror and lush coverings of the creeper which have almost totally obscured the wood of the retaining walls. Marg creates an element of whimsy with two stained glass windows hung on a wall, suggesting a little home in the bank.

As Mel pointed out, this is a “confident” garden. Alongside the mass plantings are items which catch the eye: a ponga tiki; a mosaic bird bath; old lamps used as stakes, a poor knight’s lily; a ‘gonadia’. It feels lived in – used, cherished and practical. A gorgeous path descends to the water’s edge where all that’s needed is a glass of wine for a perfect summer evening.

There are pergolas perched high to capture the Mauao view. Plants range from huge flowering trees to a small olive grove, ionium planted alongside baby aggies, Indian hawthorn, oleanders and a lavender hedge.

I came home and felt like I needed a sleep. There’s so much work in such a huge garden but Marg has kept it manageable by following her mantra of mass planting. What a wonderful space. It’ll be great to see everything in full bloom for the garden fest in November.  

Marg’s tips:

Plant en masse: “Bulking up makes it easier”.

Cut back plants: “Most things respond to being chopped back”.

If you’re pushed for time, concentrate on the aspects of the garden which give the quickest impression of order: “Do your paths and edges, lawns and hedges and then you’re fine”.

Keri

We then headed to Keri's for the traditional coffee and cake. Keri pulled out all the stops with this wonderful gluten-free Orange and Poppy-seed Cake, what a treat. You can find the recipe on the G3 recipe blog. Yum thanks Keri.