Woodland garden grows into paradise
Te Popo Garden is often called ‘‘Taranaki’s best woodland garden’’.
Mature woodland gardens have a natural, tranquil feel and a softness that can’t be bought; it only comes with time.
The garden is a sublime blend of exotic and native plantings with many paths that weave through the mature established trees to delightful hidden nooks. Each bend in the path brings the promise of further discoveries.
Amanda and Les Heynie are the garden’s proud new owners and when they first set eyes upon it were immediately taken by its beauty.
‘‘We’ve never owned a big garden like this before. To us; this garden is paradise, it’s our future and we have so many plans for it. It’s amazing to wake to the different bird songs each morning. It’s very peaceful here; an enormous contrast to Auckland,’’ said Les.
‘‘We’re looking forward to opening the garden to the public during the 2016 Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular, and in 2017 we will be taking bookings and opening the garden for events, and operating as a bed and breakfast.’’
A long, tree-lined sweeping driveway leads to the house that nestles and melds into the surrounding garden. Ferns and woodland perennials give a hint of the garden’s structure and a promise that garden visitors will be wowed by their visit.
A large flowering cherry situated at the end of the driveway hums and buzzes with the sound of countless bees when it’s in full spring bloom. It carpets the driveway with soft pink petals that slowly drift to the ground on puffs of wind.
An under-planting of purple and mauve hellebores and bluebells blend together in a tapestry of woodland plants, while the roses add a cottage garden touch.
The ‘‘Woodland Walk’’ is a wide lawn path that leads to a spacious area of mature deciduous trees. It too has mass underplantings of hellebores that mingle with the soft native ferns.
The overriding feeling at Te Popo Garden is one of relaxation. That feeling can’t be bought; Mother Nature does that in her own time by blending the countless shades of green in myriad combinations.
Te Popo Gardens: 636 Stanley Road, Stratford, Amanda & Les Heynie, 06 762 8775.