Croeso i Hafod

18 April 2013

Croeso i Hafod
Wilson Rd South

Te Puke

Eight of us arrived on time and rearing to go for our visit to Croeso i Haford the garden of the inspiring 85 year old Maureen.  After some stormy weather we were fortunate to be able to enjoy a fabulous autumn day in this tranquil garden. 

Maureen explained that her beginning point on this site were two undeveloped paddocks.  After arriving from the UK in 1988 she began to plant her favourite deciduous trees, thinking she would have years until they grew to significant heights.  She did not foresee that they would grow so fast in this mild climate and 24 years later many are huge.

The trees are a highlight in this serene garden, numerous displaying impressive autumn colours.  Maureen has protected chestnut trees that are close to 150 years old and she has been their care-taker since her arrival. She favours a rustic relaxed style of gardening with trellises and wooden gates linking the various garden rooms.

We wandered at a relaxed pace through the water garden and onto the croquet lawn, the scene of many weddings as Maureen is also a marriage celebrant.  The autumn colours were strong here with a vibrant bright orange Virginia Creeper growing on a trellis. Maureen explained how she had planned the garden to include long vistas, this meant she has often had to remove plants and de-limb trees to maintain the views as things grew.  Under another of the many arches we were treated to more autumn colour and bathed in the most delightful dappled soft light. Watching Fantails and Tuis in this beautiful hue was a highlight of the garden.  Donna commented to Maureen that the garden was very peaceful and relaxing.

We passed through Maureen’s newly planned daffodil garden and got our first glimpse of a massive Chestnut Tree, chestnuts littered the ground in their spiky protective casings which I discovered to be very sharp when I took some to sample.  The leaves from the ever growing deciduous trees are an increasing maintenance problem for Maureen. 

Lastly we got stuck in and planted three large bags of Daffodils in the newly formed daffodil garden, a tribute to Maureen’s son who has sadly passed away.  We were very impressed to see Maureen reverse and drive down to the garden in a large seated lawn mower.   This demonstrated Maureen’s independent and ‘young in sprit’ attitude that we all admired.  A big thanks to Maureen for opening her garden up to us at such short notice.

Maureen’s Tips:

 -Start at your back door and move out.  Make it pretty there and continue to the rest of the garden.

-It is very important to plan your garden with vistas (the longer the better) as things grow you may have to remove plants and de-limb the lower branches of trees so you can still see through.

Paula