Bush Garden, Waitakere

This garden is tucked in to the edge of native bush but with sheltered sunny glades and welcome shade in the hot summer months. The house, built in the 1960s was raised high above the ground and one of the key design aims was to connect the living areas better with the garden. To achieve this, two deck were built that split the difference in level in two. This allows the owner to easily access the decks which have a good sense of being immersed in the garden and from which its detailed qualities can be appreciated. Garden routes lead through a stepping stone paved kānuka glade, over boardwalk and dry river bed garden and explore an unusual variety of shade loving species thrive in the protection of the existing trees. The owner is undertook a house extension which has been carefully integrated with the garden to ensure that the gardens are enhanced by the new building.

Left: In the glades around the house a woodland garden has been established under kānuka and nīkau, combining native ferns and ground layer plants with exotic perennials. In the background the rain garden boulders are visible.

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Bush Garden, Waitakere

In the glades around the house a woodland garden has been established under kānuka and nīkau, combining native ferns and ground layer plants with exotic perennials. In the background the rain garden boulders are visible.

Detail of the pebble lined rain garden, showing the blue rush which thrives in the soil conditions, contrasting with textures of carefully sized pebbles.

Various sized river boulders and pebble form a dry riverbed theme for the rain garden and a good home for rushes, sedges and narrow leaved bird of paradise.

Walking iris (Neomarica caerulea) flank the rain garden bridge

The flowers of walking iris are short-lived but exquisite

Under titoki and kanuka in more difficult areas a simple native groundcover of creeping fuchsia, creeping taupata and sedges has been established where once a lawn struggled to survive, The new path made of recyled pavers is edges with blue pirpiri.

Natural stone stepping stones lead through the kanuka glade which features all native planting of meadow rice and basket grasses, rasp ferns and understorey shrubs