A north-facing slope near Gore has been developed into a beautiful and productive garden. Gillian Vine reports.
''We're into recycling. We shifted it here,'' Anna Butcher says, indicating the house she and her husband Graham own.
They bought 1.8ha of sloping bare land on the outskirts of Gore 27 years ago, attracted by its north-facing aspect. The inexpensive secondhand wooden house was sited high on the property so they could enjoy the sunshine and view, and the couple called it Timara, named after their children, Timothy and Maria.
''The first thing we did was put in a vege garden,'' Anna says.
Then they decided to grow leeks commercially, which they did for many years.
When the leek paddock was no longer needed, Anna looked at ''all this beautiful ploughed land'' and decided the time was right to develop the woodland area that not only looks good but keeps southerlies at bay. The woodland's birches were grown from seed, a golden elm was an anniversary gift and among the rhododendrons in what was the leek paddock is - of course - Mrs G.W. Leak.
As they grew, the trees and shrubs became a haven for birds, including resident bellbirds, waxeyes and grey warblers. Kingfishers are regular visitors and this year a tui returned for its second winter at Timara. The trees have done so well that the Butchers are now reluctantly facing the need to consider taking out some.
Elsewhere, perennial borders provide colour virtually all year as well as ''pickables'' for floral work. Many of the plants were grown from seed or cuttings, often donated by friends.
As in the early days, food growing is important. In the organic vege garden, one of the less usual plants is chicory (witloof). Once used as a coffee substitute but now more familiar as chico, a forage plant on dairy farms, in the home garden the roots can be forced in winter to produce pale shoots (chicons), an excellent cold-weather salad ingredient.
For the more conventional taste, purple sprouting broccoli, from the Koanga Institute's range of heritage vegetables, is highly recommended by Anna.
''It just keeps on and on,'' she says.
Among the fruit and nut trees are apples rescued from around the district. Despite being moved as mature specimens, they have responded well to the Butchers' TLC and what Anna calls Timara's ''wee microclimate''.
Graham devised a neat trick to keep blackbirds from stealing strawberries. He painted stones bright red and put them among the plants. After a few tries at pecking the fakes, the birds retreated in disgust and the real berries developed unharmed. It's a trick other gardeners may want to imitate.
Only one thing mars this delightful 1.2ha country garden: rabbits.
''We're plagued with them,'' Anna says.
See it
Timara, 51 Pinnacle Rd, RD 5, Gore, is one of almost 20 properties in the Southland Open Gardens scheme. Timara is open from late spring only by appointment and groups are welcome. Phone (03) 208-9595 to book or email gbutcher@esi.co.nz. Adult admission is $5. For the full list of Southland's open gardens, see www.southlandgardens.co.nz
