Growing beauty
Over nearly half a century, one couple transforms the garden of their modest section into a lush, flower-filled haven full of colour and fragrance.
The year was 1971, and summer was just starting when Shirley and Don Parsons moved into their new home. It was meant to be temporary – a stepping stone to a bigger farm. In an era when resourcefulness prevailed, the Parsons decided to bring their growing summer vegetables with them. Don dug the potatoes and brassicas in among the old apple trees, and they had a marvellous first year of harvesting. The soil was great, which was a good sign. Now edging close to 50 years later, that intended move to a bigger property have never eventuated, those past-their-best apples trees have long gone and been replaced with a vegetable and berry garden. Shirley and Don are firmly rooted in their modest section with its magical vista down the Otago Harbour towards Port Chalmers. Across the harbour, they also look out to the Otago Peninsula where they were both grew up within a stone’s throw of each other.
The Parsons are only the second set of permanent residents of their Saint Leonards property, and the prominent walnut tree thought to have been planted in 1926 is one of the few trees to remain since their arrival. Brushing up against the house and obstructing the precious harbour views, the walnut tree also happened to be the subject of their first garden disagreement – Don wanting it out but Shirley not. They met halfway, and Don whacked the middle of it out, but his heavy handedness didn’t exactly thwart the ferocious grower; it has continued to receive a solid trim each year.
The ever-resourceful Don puts the walnut clippings aside for winter kindling, but he has a few other secrets that drive the garden’s success. Clippings from the surrounding escallonia, macrocarpa and hawthorn hedges are mixed with pea straw. (Shirley doesn’t like the pea straw as birds flick it everywhere and wind whips it round the garden causing a terrible mess.) Then Don fires up the lawn mower and chops it all up into a luscious mulch. The result of this additional mulch around the garden is a free and loamy soil, the bursting vege and flowerbeds testament to this goodness.
Shirley always had an interest in flower gardens and on their previous property which they say “received all the sun, all the wind, and all the rain,” she had enjoyed creating her own garden as a stay-at-home mum.
A bed of roses were the only flowers on the section when they arrived at their new harbour edge property, and even though Shirley knew little about roses, she was keen to move them into a circle garden. Their elderly neighbour gave friendly advice over the fence but was disapproving of Shirley’s intention and suggested she wouldn’t be successful. But driven by her own tenacity and being “a big believer about swashing things in with lots of water,” Shirley successfully created her circle rose garden, got hooked on roses and the garden grew.
A bed of roses were the only flowers on the section when they arrived… even though Shirley knew little about roses, she was keen to move them into a circle garden.
Spring is a bountiful time when trillium, cyclamen, iris, poppies and bulbs burst out against a blossom backdrop from cherry, plum and peach trees.
Leading busy lives, the Parsons only really started to dedicate time to their garden after their retirement, when Don laid out plans for interlinking paths that also separated the garden into lots of smaller spaces. They didn’t have a vision, but the local garden club has played a big part with swapping and gifting of plants, as well as a good source of advice and tips from members. “I feel like I have quite a bit of gardening knowledge but I’m always learning from guest speakers who come to talk to us on specialist topics like propagation,” Shirley says. She also enjoys organising the local church’s biannual garden trail, especially the fun part of finding gardens which involves snooping around looking over fences.
Spring is a bountiful time when trillium, cyclamen, iris, poppies and bulbs burst out against a blossom backdrop from cherry, plum and peach trees. Camellias and rhododendrons provide extra colour, Shirley being a fan of ‘Christmas Cheer’ with its small pink flower which blooms through to winter. The annual spring cut-flower section of the local flower show normally sees Shirley winning a few certificates for her polyanthus.
The colourful roses come into their own for summer, together with dahlias, lilies and gladiolus. Shirley has a particular love for fuschia, and at first she had visions of growing them in hanging pots. However, she soon discovered they demanded a lot of attention and water, so it was easier to put them straight in the ground. Now there are about a dozen species which also get the Don treatment in August.
He also took over the role of the winter rose pruning after Shirley fractured her hip about 20 years ago. “He doesn’t do too bad a job,” Shirley remarks with a grin.
There’s always something in the garden to keep the Parsons occupied, and it seems they wouldn’t want it any other way. Don reflects that the garden is a great way to fill in time. They grow way too many vegetables, and he even confesses he’s a fan of weeds. “If they never grew that would take away a lot of work,” he laughs.
Shirley adds that with the few “aches and pains”, it could be easy to sit around, so the garden is a great excuse to keep moving and motivated.
Clearly not a couple content with sitting round, they visited their daughter in the UK and returned with the idea for a bed and breakfast which they ended up operating for 25 years. “We had no idea how to run it, but loved being social and meeting people from all around the world.” They were always quick to point out to guests “not to expect anything too fancy, we are just an ordinary place and ordinary people.” But those guests would always be greeted with a warm welcome and a colourful garden to wander around and admire.
“I wouldn’t like to be without a garden and especially love the peacefulness in the evenings when the wind dies down,” Shirley says. “Some people say it’s a lot of work but I love being in it. We probably should’ve downsized a while ago, but we are fortunate to have a family that can help out when needed. But I do have to keep an eye on them, especially while they are cutting back.” ✤