b'Rosemary and Laurie chose a variety of hardy species, with close planting forOutdoor furniture: root support. They kept the setting natural, where possible, for the nativeDevonplants, grasses and succulents. Specimens that have ourished in this seaside oasis include cordyline or cabbage trees, cycads (with some shelter), corokia, phormium or axes, muehlenbeckia, libertias and grasses, including carex, uncinia,festuca,amenanthele,chionochloa,miscanthusandpoa.Other successful plants include euphorbia, genista, palms, coprosma, pohutukawa,Resene Buffolearia, hebes, and a huge selection of succulents and cacti. Pots: Puna pots from Nurez These have all proved theyre real survivors, says Rosemary. Exterior cladding: Rockcote nishedThey have also incorporated a collection of materials collected from localin Resene Buffbeaches, including black volcanic rocks, pumice, driftwood, sponges and seashells. A haha retaining wall, which marks the boundary on two sides of the property, has been made from rustic railway sleepers. A large tufa ballResene water feature was sourced from Living Stone in Greytown. Light BeigeThe couple took advice from their architect on the colour scheme for theFence: Onduline, painted with Resene Lustacryl outside of the house, using Rockcote cladding painted with Resene Buff, alongtinted to Resene Rope with Resene Olive Green on one wall and the entry screen. The exterior shadeand Resene Enamacryl Metallic tinted to Resene was chosen specically to blend seamlessly into the colour of the backdrop,Magmano matter what angle it is viewed from. Resene However, its been the painted courtyard wall that has attracted seriousMagmaattention.Locatedonthenorthernsideofthehouse,thisisawell- used retreat, the gates of which can also be opened up to the view inSquare planter: from Community Arts Centre calm weather.Gallery, WanganuiWindow sills: Tiles from Many locals have changed their fencing plans to copy ours. Some peopleMorris and James including an architectthought it was copper and wondered how much it had cost, laughs Laurie.Resene The fence is black Onduline, painted with a coat of acrylic primer, ReseneOlive GreenLustacryl and two coats of metallic Resene Enamacryl Magma. It was appliedPaving: Palermo pavers by brush, but Laurie believes it would have been much quicker to spray it on,in Biscottobecause of the stippled absorbent surface of the Onduline. The fence has been installed close to the exposed beach environment for nearly two years, and still looks like shiny new copper, he says.Resene The wall plaque that looks so effective on the copper background is byBrandypotter, Bill Davies, who also lives at Waikanae Beach. There are also three Resene Puna pots on the wall from Nurez Design in Tauranga. RopeAs for future plans for the Waikanae garden, theres no major change on the agenda. Just some tweaking, and the maintenanceweeding, mulching and some renewal or division of plants, the Pethericks say. That should leave plenty of time for Laurie to be down at the Waikanae Riveron the following pages, mouth at every opportunity kite-boardinghe claims its the best spot in Wellingtonor out on his shing boat. Rosemary enjoys helping other peoplend two alternative with their gardens, as well as doing community voluntary work, walking,style suggestionsreading, sorting the family archives, and being a grandmother to one.| 117'