A classy South Otago garden is the setting for a fundraising garden party next month. Gillian Vine reports.
Ten years ago, Helen and Peter Gilder moved to Waitapeka Farm, 11km from Balclutha, but it was to be another three years before Helen started landscaping around the house and a further three years before planting was completed.
"It was good to start with a blank canvas," Helen says.
The only big trees were a group of cabbage trees that sheltered the farm's dog kennels, and when the fence was pushed out to incorporate this area into the garden, Helen was determined to make a feature of the trees.
"The birds fly in and out and the perfume from the flowers is magnificent," she says.
The lawn had to be "big enough to have space for kids to run around".
Helen and Peter's grand-daughter, Mackenzie Baines (5), of Balclutha, demonstrates how true that is, whirling across the grass in a swirl of lavender skirt.
Rocks were brought to Romahapa from Glenomaru - "The farm there was covered" - and Helen used them to create a terrace to divide two levels of the lawn and a similar, deeper terrace to separate the garden from the paddock below.
The terrace is deep enough to prevent stock getting into the garden and at the same time allows unimpeded views across the countryside to the sea.
Peter and two of Helen's brothers helped with the structural work, then she chose the plants.
"We get the easterly, then the southwesterly [wind] comes, so planting is simple," she says.
For colour that can be seen from the house, she has a rose hedge, of Rosa rugosa , on the boundary, while elsewhere lavender borders add a Mediterranean touch and are unfazed by dry seasons.
To one side of the house is what Helen calls her "bitsy garden", giving a succession of flowers suitable for her to use in floral art.
Helen's decision to take things slowly must have been frustrating at times, as she planned the structures then mulched the areas to be planted before plants were added.
The careful approach has paid off, though, with a splendid garden that looks much more mature than its age.
An accomplished artist, she believes in making use of "anything you can get for nothing to create something", so she saved long ropes of Muehlenbeckia, wound them into balls and used them to create unique garden decorations.
Elsewhere, pieces of shell and driftwood have been used for an outdoor wall hanging, while pumice brought home from a North Island trip features in several of Helen's other works of art.
In an area where water can be scarce in summer, a pond may appear a luxury, but as it is filled with water that comes off the roof of the house, one good shower will usually be enough to top it up.
Each element has been integrated to create a fine garden.
See it
There will be a garden party at Waitapeka Farm on Saturday, February 7, to raise money for the Balclutha Presbyterian Church to furnish its new hall.
There will be musical entertainment, games, stalls, a bottle auction at 2.30pm and a prize for the best-decorated hat.
Tickets ($20, which includes afternoon tea) are available from the Matau Garden Centre, Charlotte St, Balclutha, or from the church.
There will be some gate sales, but organisers prefer to sell tickets in advance to have some idea of numbers for catering.
Directions to the garden are printed on the back of tickets and the route will be signposted from Regional Ford garage at the intersection of Clyde and High Sts, Balclutha.
For further information, contact Marylyn McClintock, phone (03) 418-0872.
