Two Gardens in One Day

Hawkridge

28/11/2013

We met our host Cheryl in the parking area in front of the Hawkridge garden and homestead.  Although the house looked like it could have been there for many decades we learned that it was actually built in 1996.  The original homestead was bequeathed to Tauranga Boys College and is able to be seen in the school grounds from Cameron Road.  

The entrance path had a cottage garden feel with tall pink hollyhocks grabbing our attention, The white rose, Avalanche flowered profusely. Walking through to the back of the house two large topiaried Lilli-Pilli overlooked a formal rectangle pond.

The front garden was formally arranged with buxus hedges surrounding white Hydrangeas beneath a large covered verandah.  We sheltered on the verandah when it began to pour with rain and Cheryl told us the biggest challenge is the garden had been fitting the design around some very large pre- existing trees including Oaks and Chestnuts.  She had used her own design and then worked with Mark Cashmore to "pull everything together".

Once the rain eased we continued to explore the gardens, including rose beds that were situated on the far end of the property.  Cheryl has two part time gardeners to help tend this three and half acre garden.  She described how they composted on the property and used twelve compost bins.

A large immaculate lawn anchored the house with the addition of a new Cabana for entertaining.  One of the memorable trees in this area was a large Ash.  We were delighted by the pet Chinese Silkies hens as we stood on the lawn.  The sun appeared and it was instantly hot and steam began to rise around us from the outdoor furniture and Cabana roof tiles.

The scale and grandeur of this garden was almost surreal especially when combined with the unusual tropical weather.

Garden of Michelle McDonnell 

28/11/2013

The next stop was the property of Michelle McDonnell.  We began in her newest garden, which she had been inspired to create a year ago after a solo visit to France.  A wall was quickly removed and a new walkway and court yard created.  The colours under the pleached olive hedge lining the walkway were vibrant blue with one of my favourite cottage plants, Centaurea Cyanus (cornflowers).  The new courtyard was small but perfectly formed with buxus balls and an elegant table and chairs to finish the picture.

Passing espaliered Star Jasmine and its fragrance, we got our first view of the tranquil main garden. A lush green rectangular lawn is the centre piece. There were several different types of hedging plants utilised to give form and structure Euonymous formed a 'knot garden' close to the house.  Corokia, Chilean Guava and Tuecrium Fruticans, were all used in different positions within the garden and Ligustrum Rotundifolium was attractive and a specimen I have not come across before.  All of these hedges can be used as alternatives to Buxus. Michelle described trying to minimise Buxus hedging in this garden due to the devastating effects of Buxus blight.

Hydrangea Trophy was a feature of the back wall planting and green Hostas.  A weeping pear tree was an attractive specimen with its distinct slivery foliage, as was a small pleached hedge of Portuguese Laurel - Prunus Lusitanica.  Michelle explained how it  was originally used to screen the  children' s trampoline and that a small garden may only require the pleaching of three or four specimens to create a clever effect.

I certainly was inspired to see what can be achieved in a smaller scale garden,  similar to the size of my own, and I went home with lots of ideas to think about.  Thank you to Cheryl and Michelle for hosting us in their lovely gardens.  We were very privileged to see them both.

Paula