"I'm a plantaholic," Joan Sutherland confesses.
Mrs Sutherland and her husband, George, have lived in Magnolia House, in Maori Hill, for more than 20 years.
As well as retaining the villa's historic aspects, Mrs Sutherland has developed the garden on the foundations laid by Peggy Reid, whose husband was a member of the stock and station firm, Donald Reid.
The garden, covering about 0.2 hectares, is in two parts: an English-style garden around the house, and bush area behind it; although originally there were some native plants in the front part.
"There was a great big rata at the gate, a huge thing, but it was all diseased, so we cut it out," Mrs Sutherland says.
A surprise came when the overgrown Olearia paniculata hedge along the front of the property was cut back: lurking in its dusty depth was the original picket fence, now repainted white.
"Two old camellias were planted by Peggy and some of the roses on the garage, such as Shot Silk, were definitely hers," Mrs Sutherland says.
She has kept the roses on the wall, adding some others, and developing a rose bed in front of them for bush types.
As with all her roses, her preference is for those with good scent.
"Sutter's Gold has a wonderful perfume," she says of the rose named for the man who found gold in California.
One of the magnolias that give the house its name also dates from Peggy Reid's time, as does a Prunus planted alongside the climbing roses against the garage.
In this warm spot, it flowers in July.
"It's a beautiful thing. Its flowers are double, bright pink. I love 'double-y' things," Mrs Sutherland says.
This love is reflected in the likes of peach Azalea Soft Lights and white Pavlova, the first double-flowered scented deciduous Azalea to be bred, and the plump little lemon-yellow blossoms of the Banksia rose (Rosa banksiae lutea).
The rose sprawls in glorious abandon over a garden shed and looking up, one almost misses the delights at ground level, including pots of Pleione orchids tucked into the beds.
Serious orchid growers sometimes don't take seriously these little charmers but they are quite easy to grow, although they need some winter protection, when they are dormant.
Another eye-catcher at Magnolia House in mid-spring is the delicate pink rhododendron Queen Anne.
"She is absolutely gorgeous. The colour is just so pure," Mrs Sutherland says.
Fat heads of paeonies follow the azaleas and rhododendrons, with dahlias - blooming from midsummer right into winter because they are sheltered by the house - and chrysanthemums for autumn colour.
"I try very hard to have something all year round," Mrs Sutherland says.
Notable plants
• Pots of Pleione orchids throughout the garden.
• Double azaleas Pavlova and Soft Lights.
• July-flowering double Prunus against the garage wall.
• A Clematis-draped rimu tree that marks the division between the English-style garden and the bush area.
