Burrwood Garden

28 February 2013

449 Lund Road 
Katikati

This picturesque established 2.5 acre contoured garden is perched 800 feet above sea level lending to its own microclimate free from frosts in which the likes of both natives and David Austin roses flourish! The house and top of the garden have expansive views of the Tauranga harbour and surrounds.

Alan & Maureen Cook have spent the past 17 years converting an abandoned kiwifruit orchard into wide sweeping vistas of native and old world plants. Maureen has collected plants from friends established gardens as felt it suited the bush setting.

From the house you pass through the colourful top layer of the garden past the natural log staircase and neatly stacked woodshed highlighting Alan's passion for woodwork; to the right is located a small nursery in which seedlings are raised and available for purchase.

From here you begin the gradual descent down the first of several green sweeping grass lawns to the 'ladies mile'.

The path lined with punga,native orchids & rata. The ladies mile features several large specimen trees: magnolia, copper beech, Hawthorne & maples.

Featured amongst these are a vast array of NZ natives, roses, hydrangeas, orchards, proteas, fragrant mandavila,  kangaroo paws, lavender, clematis, lillies philidensus (self seeding & commence flowering 7th Feb) flax, manuka. Parvonia orange flower. Pineapple Lilly. Typoshina, Spiria.

The next level you emerge into is wide and expansive followed by a third featuring several ponds gold fish and a different array of planting including hosta & taro.
The final level rising to native yellow/black hibiscus, Porapora with a poisonous berry, ribbon wood, kowhai, Horopito & several variety of Rimu.

A peaceful & tranquil setting to spend a fine February morning! As always returning inspired and with just a wee bit more knowledge to add to the gardening tool box!

Maureen's tips/ words of wisdom:

Hybrid tea roses cut back hard, good as stand alone roses.
David Austin roses cut back by a 1/3; or every second year. Grow well amongst other plants.
Companion plant curly leave parsley for aphids & disease prevention.
Be mindful Punga have extensive and fibrous root systems.

Meg

G3 AGM

31 January 2013

Mills Reef
Tauranga

It was our traditional get together today to plan out the rest of the year, and what a year its going to be. Lots of exciting trips and visits planned, cant wait!

Christmas Lunch 2012

13 December 2012

Our first port of call (before the lunch feast began) was at Katie's lovely cottage garden in Bay Fair.

We then moved onto Paula's stunning garden in Papamoa. Amazing what you can grow in sand, well done Paula.

Then off course the traditional christmas lunch. Merry christmas G3 girls, looking forward to seeing some exciting gardens in 2013.

Donna

Bethlehem Gem

25 October 2012

Athfield Drive

Bethlehem

Tauranga

We had a lovely visit to Joans formal/cottage garden nestled in the leafy suburb of Bethlehem.  She established her garden from scratch 9 years ago where they built a Landmark home.

Her driveway was lined with an effect white garden – of standard iceberg roses, lambs ear and a white camellia hedge.  The entrance of the house was highlighted with stunning tall cone shaped and tiered lilly pilly.  Although very effective and fast growing Joan pointed out that they are not an ideal specimen due to their susceptibility to thrips.  She sprays them fortnightly with confidor to control the disease.

The back garden is stunning with a 4 tiered hedge separating the lower garden with the upper.  This was very effective and much enjoyed by all of us.  Between one layer of the hedge were Vulcon or black magnolia which would be striking in flower.

The 3 Curly Robina lined in one garden made for an interesting aspect of the garden, although not a particularity robust tree in the wind.

The back garden was more of a casual cottage garden with lots of variety and colour, with a few vegetables along the way! 

Michelle

Hamilton Gardens

27 September 2012

Cobham Drive
Hamilton
www.hamiltongardens.co.nz




WOW what an amazing job the Hamilton council have done. 
Our first destination was the Paradise Garden Collection, made up of 6 gardens from around the world. Let the exploring begin.......

Entrance to the Paradise Garden Collection

First garden was the 'Italian Renaissance Garden, it is an interpretation of 15th-16th Century Renaissance gardens that sought to rationalise and improve upon nature' - there words not mine!

It was interesting how they had trained some of the espalier to grow down the wall, you can see that in the middle photos.

Kumera mounds

Next stop 'Te Parapara, which is a garden demonstrating traditional Maori horticulture.'









The 'Japanese Garden of Contemplation, an example of the 14th - 16th Century Muromachi Period gardens designed for quiet contemplation and study.' I have to say it was very peaceful.

The Indian garden was quiet a contrast to the Japanese garden, with its full bursts of colour everywhere. The 'Indian Char Bagh Garden, an interpretation of a 16th - 17th Century symbolic four-quartered garden built for the Mughal aristocracy as an escape from the harsh environment.'

We had a quick pass through the English Flower Garden, which I think we were a bit early for and not much was out in flower.

Then onto the 'Chinese Scholar's Garden, and interpretation of the 10th - 12th Century Sung Dynasty gardens that were designed as natural worlds of imagination and surprise.' Again we were a bit early to see the Wisteria flowering, Im sure it would be worth a trip to see as it has been wound around a large bridge over the water way.

The 'American Modernist Garden, a late 20th Century garden for outdoor living designed in the American West Coast tradition.'

Leaving the Paradise Collection we headed for the Productive Garden Collection, have to say I was pretty excited about seeing this. The garden displayed plants for culinary, cosmetic, perfume and medicianal purposes. It even had this 'Pouched Egg Flower' plant, interesting!

Formal Herb Garden, note the clipped Bay Tree

On to the 'Kitchen Garden, based on the traditional European kitchen gardens, this garden displays a range of vegetables and small fruits.' I had a chat with the gardeners as they were pulling up wheel barrow loads of carrots, to find that they send all there produce to the food bank.

Fruit trees espaliered within the walled garden 

The last garden we had time for was the 'Sustainable Backyard, a small enclosed garden demonstrating principles of sustainable food production on a backyard scale.' They managed to fit alot into this small space, bee hive, worm farm, compost, fruit trees and veges.

Unfortunately we ran out of time to explore the rest the fantastic Hamilton gardens have to offer. So we think another trip is on the agenda.
Donna

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.