Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84feature garden I n a tiny, pretty street, that’s walking distance to everything in Christchurch, you’d never guess that behind Juliet Nicholas and Ken McAnergney’s house lies a garden that keeps the inhabitants fed. For the past 15 years, the couple, daughter Josie and cute canine Minnie have learned a thing or two about sustainable living and growing organic food. The garden delivers an impressive harvest for a pair of avid cooks and proponents of spray-free provisions. It’s not all about production. Ken and Juliet believe in aesthetics in equal measure (not surprising when Juliet is a well-known garden photographer). The garden includes espaliered fruit trees, ferns, bird feeders and five well-planted plots: four big potager beds, and a skinnier side plot for berries and beans. Those plots were relocated from east to west a couple of years ago, but only after carefully considering the views they’d create from different vantage points. Juliet has ‘visually thought out’ the axis of these plots before committing to their placement. They decided on raised beds, because that increases the soil temperature. The ideal soil depth is about 200mm, Ken says. Here the beds dip below ground by 50mm. “This side of the garden was endowed with much more sunshine,” Juliet says. “Plus, by having the raised beds within view from living room and kitchen windows, we’re constantly observing and feeling connected to our plants.” This is a couple not shy of colour, but while they might have jewel-coloured or stripy vegetables growing in the garden, their house is painted in the beautiful moody neutral of Resene Quarter Stonehenge and trimmed in Resene Alabaster. The garden fence is coloured to recede, disappear even. The fence is stained in Resene Waterborne Woodsman Shadow Match. Everything is considered; colour, structure, height, plus a blend of formality and informality. Juliet favours blue petalled and fragrant flowers to attract bees top tip Use Resene Terracotta Sealer to seal the inside and outside of planters and pots to help retain moisture, and keep them looking good. Far left: Juliet and Ken’s potager garden takes over their back yard in full bountiful force. The old playhouse is painted in stripes of Resene Cream Can and Resene House White on a background of Resene Comfort Zone. Left: Juliet and Ken – enjoying a productive and visually enticing garden. Resene Cream Can 71