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return to Eden


From Habitat magazine - issue 15

After a barren dirt garden in their Nigerian home, this family wanted to immerse themselves in colour and greenery.

What's one of the first things you do when returning from a four-year expatriate posting in Nigeria? Well, if you're Aucklander Jane McRae, you set about creating a magical garden retreat incorporating palms and native plants, bright colours and lots of bird-enticing elements.

Green garden space
Get the look with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Sorbus and Resene Grenadier and Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Kabul.

Jane and her partner extensively renovated their Hillsborough home overlooking the Manukau Harbour to create an environment the family could continue to enjoy as their primary school-age children grew into teenagers.

Along with remodelling the house, they also tackled the barren wedge-shaped piece of land on the southeast seaward side of the house, enlisting the help of landscape designer Tania Barke from Through the Garden Gate.

Outdoor chiminea fireplace
Outdoor seating area
Chiminea fireplace: A functional work of art, the custom-made chiminea fireplace provides warmth and ambience, and acts as a visual focal point. It's also great for toasting marshmallows. Custom-made chiminea: Bella Fuego, www.bellafuego.co.nz. Outdoor seating area: A sitting area on the covered deck has a backdrop of slatted timber stained in Resene Waterborne Woodsman tinted to Resene Treehouse.

Tania and Jane worked closely together. Jane's scrapbook of ideas included pictures of water features, specific plants, outdoor fireplaces, paving stones and flowing steps – all of which helped Tania understand her client's vision.

'The scrapbook was a fantastic starting point,' says Tania. 'But we then had to fit Jane's ideas to the site and the conditions, and marry the garden to the house. It's a very narrow space that steps down from the house. We filled and lifted the site, and the wedge shape of the garden dictated to a large degree what we could do with it. Being a small space, too many elements would have been confusing.'

Outdoor semi-circular amphitheatre
The semi-circular 'amphitheatre' was dug out of the bank and soil moved around to create a flat area dotted with islands of palms and natives. The curved two-toned orange feature walls are painted in Resene Grenadier (top) and Resene Sorbus (bottom). Landscape designer: Tania Barke, Through the Garden Gate, www.ttgg.co.nz.

Because the garden is also in shadow all winter and is exposed to strong on-shore winds, the plants had to be wind and salt tolerant.

Low maintenance and privacy were Jane's key requirements. And, of course, there was also the inclusion of the colour orange. Two tones – Resene Sorbus and Resene Grenadier – were used to paint the curved plastered walls and provide the perfect counterbalance to the lush foliage.

'Some of the neighbours were a bit sceptical at first,' admits Jane, 'but orange and green are beautiful together.' Tania agrees: 'The orange is stunning and vibrant, and it just calls you out into the garden. Even in winter this garden is enticing from the house.' The plant palette Tania chose also includes red, white and a smattering of purple. And the family pet Snowcone, a rainbow lorikeet, also adds to the vibrancy.

Thai spirit house
Bird bath
Thai spirit house: In a far corner nearest the sea is the Thai spirit house that Jane brought back with her from her travels.  Birdbath: A ceramic birdbath is tucked into a garden bed.

Jane had clear native plant favourites, including nikau, king palms and cabbage trees, which are planted in three 'islands' with sago palms and green mondo grass. Tania offset all this green with the richly coloured Caruba Black and Purpurea cabbage trees, Platt's Black flax and dark bromeliads to complement the Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain tinted to Resene Treehouse on the cedar details of the house.

A karaka tree adds height at the seaward end of the orange feature walls. The other end is lined with a row of fruit-laden mandarin, lime and feijoa trees above a fragrant bank of star jasmine. Philodendron xanadu grows beneath the orange-stemmed dypsis palms that flank the eye-catching custom-made chiminea fireplace.

Irises and liriope musacari add a dash of purple, while native heritage flaxes and grey-green oioi reeds complement the dwarf pohutukawa and the titoki that provide privacy along the boundary fence. Wind-tolerant Poor Knights lilies add an abundance of crimson bottle-brush flowers, to which the birds flock.

Outdoor patio
Lorikeet
Patio: Table and chairs sit next to a rectangular fishpond with a minimalist water feature – a chute made from glass coated in Resene Kabul to match the painted wall behind. Ceramic art: Bob Steiner, www.steinerceramics.co.nz.  Lorikeet: Snowcone, the rainbow lorikeet belonging to Jane's daughter, is a regular visitor to the garden and his colourful plumage tones perfectly with the orange, green and purple colour palette.

Stepping up from the garden, a paved patio connects to the covered deck and downstairs living area. Table and chairs sit next to a rectangular fishpond with a minimalist water feature – a chute made from glass coated in Resene Kabul to match the painted wall behind. Further on is the children's playhouse.

Says Jane 'The kids can run around the trees, make trails between the flaxes and there are small zones and hiding spots everywhere. They have the pool on the other side of the house in summer and their playhouse, and they can toast marshmallows in the chiminea. The oval amphitheatre is also the perfect place for their shows.'

As well as doing virtually all of the planting herself, Jane has added her own personal touches: wind chimes, ceramic leaf-shaped wall art, a Thai spirit house to welcome good karma into the garden and a lime-green bird bath and tall wooden feeding platform to entice native birds into this magical space.

Did you know...

Steps and paths can become slippery when wet. Avoid falls with Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path, available in a range of colours to suit your home. The semi-circular 'amphitheatre' was dug out of the bank and soil moved around to create a flat area dotted with islands of palms and natives. The curved two-toned orange feature walls are painted in Resene Grenadier (top) and Resene Sorbus.


Alternative solution – native flair

a sweeping koru form connects this design

Jennie van der Valk of Artworks Landscapes suggests this alternative scheme:

Alternative solution 1

This design is influenced by the arches and curves already used in the landscape. At its heart is a sweeping koru form made from pavers interplanted with Chatham Island fescue. This koru connects the garden's two main focal points – the water feature of plaster (in Resene Cocoa Bean) and gabion walls, and the cabbage tree sculpture. Both of these are lit up at night along with the 44-gallon drums (painted in Resene Dynamite) which have cutouts on the side to allow light to shine out from within. Low maintenance native plants are used to provide extra colour and form.

A striking native scheme with Resene Cocoa Bean plaster walls, Resene Dynamite drums lit from within and Resene Friar Grey concrete furniture.

phone 03 387 0673   mob 021 985 559   web www.artworkslandscapes.co.nz

Accessories: Chinochloa flavicans. Gabion baskets filled with local stone, from Maccaferri. Cabbage tree sculpture by Jeff Thomson. Stainless steel water blade, from The Water Garden.


Alternative solution – eastern whimsy

an ode to the Islamic paradise garden

Landscape designer Nicky Samuel suggests this alternative scheme:

Alternative solution 2

Reminiscent of the walled Islamic paradise garden style, this design features a water rill to create a cooling effect on hot summer nights. Raised planters in each corner are finished in Resene Float, with dwarf magnolia trees underplanted with a riot of plants with cream, blue and white flowers, as well as fragrant plants like roses, stock and herbs. Enclosing the space are Panelrok walls painted in Resene Cream Can, with mock tile details in Resene Float, Resene Black Sheep and Resene Moxie. A relatively new technological advance in landscaping, a green wall, is used behind the whimsical fountain and provides more space on the ground plane. Built-in seating uses Panelrok's Knotwood and gives a place to rest.

Rich colours in Resene Float (planters) and Resene Cream Can (walls) are a vibrant component for this middle eastern-inspired garden.

phone 07 872 8028   mob 0274 866 218   web www.elandesign.net.nz

Accessories: Spike Spot Metal Halide, from Hunza Pure Outdoor Lighting. Blue Moon rose. Panelrok and Knotwood. Green walls, from Maccaferri. Terrazo Veneto Bianco pavers, from Horizon International.

words: Deirdre Coleman
pictures: Sally Tagg
illustration: Bruce Bryan


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