'I'm most happy when my fingers are in the dirt,” says Sue Sisley, as we wander her garden wonderland that her and husband Bill have created during more than two decades.
But we have to stop often. Sue spots the invasive Taiwan cherry weed, and rips it out immediately. 'We rip out hundreds of these every year,” says Sue, determined to keep her paradise ship-shape.
Sue and Bill purchased two hectares on Hot Springs Rd nearly 24 years ago, and never had a set plan for the garden.
However, with Sue in charge of the gardens and Bill 'the heavy lifter” and maintenance man, strictly confined to grass and tree work, the property has evolved into a tranquil utopia bounded on two sides by Te Rereatukahia stream.
Bill's first construction was a wooden archway, now covered in clematis, hibertia, sand paper vine – he's since built many other structures. For example, there's a full-size doorway to venture through the shelterbelt to the garden's next section.
Bill also plays a major role in cleaning up garden rubbish and manicuring lawns and garden edges. No garden rubbish is burnt; all is put through a mulcher to return to the garden.
Sue's planting mix is varied and changes between seasons as the inveterate plant-buyer finds something she likes, then finds a space in her garden for it to feature. 'What I love is no matter what time of year, there is always something flowering or coming on.”
Inherited love
Sue's mother and aunty were both gardeners, and the love has been strongly inherited. 'All people have things they like to do – I like to garden. It's my thing,” says Sue, who'll keep at it for as long as she's able.
The garden starts in the driveway of their home – an attraction itself, built from Macrocarpa originally with a wooden shingle roof that made it look like a large ginger bread house. 'People arrive and when they come around the side of the house, they gasp,” says Sue.
They're met with an array gardens featuring a ‘zoo' of varieties, sculptures dotted throughout, a large sloped lawn with an archway at the bottom surrounded by a garden, the backdrop ‘painted' with full-grown trees.
To the left is a doorway through the shelterbelt; here a track winds down a hill where you meet their last kunekune pig which grazes on flat paddock under transformation. 'We've planted an arboretum of mainly deciduous European trees,” says Sue. 'And we've just added a native fern punga glade.” All natives here have been propagated from plants on the property.
Bush and stream (sidehead)
Past the arboretum mature Kauri and Rewarewa trees live on the stream banks. A bush track follows the river as it bends around the Sisley property. Bill has built himself a sauna near the water and there's a ‘rock pool' for summer dips. The oldest kauri on their property is estimated at 370 years old. 'We hear all sorts of birds down here,” say Sue, as the stream's water rushes into your ears and your soul. 'People just love it down here – it is so tranquil.”
The track leads back to the garden, where you're greeted with a magnificent view of the macrocapa home nestled on the hillside. 'I can never find a rake where I need one,” proffers Sue, as we walk the archway and she spots a mess. How many does she have? 'Oh, about six or so.”
Up The Garden Path
The place is a picture – with Sue's garden artistry truly beautiful. Even the home's deck is lined with little sculptures and ornaments. 'I can't help myself,” says Sue, who believes their garden has featured in about 11 rambles, as well as giving joy to countless garden groups.
This November 4-5 the Sisley's garden will be among 16 to feature in the Up The Garden Path ramble fundraiser for Katikati Rotary Club. Tickets cost $30 each from The Arts Junction, 36 Main Rd, Katikati, or online at: https://www.katikati.org.nz/katikati-garden-ramble