GARDEN PARTY

It’s a sub-tropical oasis full of fruit trees, and only minutes from specialty shops and cafes, writes LOUISE RICHARDSON

Richard Dale and Meg Liptrot’s cross-lease section in Westmere isn’t huge — but it’s incredibly hardworking. The couple have more than 25 species of fruit trees, including giant banana palms and eight varieties of feijoa. It’s a veritable sub-tropical oasis, minutes from busy Richmond Rd. Espaliered figs and pear trees do well against the walls, while a grapevine twists around the rear veranda. Graphic artist Richard has lived at the property for over 30 years and Meg for the past 20. She studied sustainable horticulture and writes about it for magazines. She also works as an education coordinator at EcoMatters Environment Trust in New Lynn, so it goes without saying that she is committed to creating gardens that are 100 per cent organic. Richard shares Meg’s philosophies and their caring approach to life is evident in the garden and throughout their 1905 Edwardian weatherboard villa. When it came time to renovate the family home for themselves and their toddler son, Alfie (2), the couple researched widely in order to ensure that they were using appropriate eco-friendly, recycled and sustainable materials throughout. “We wanted to keep it true to its era,” says Richard. The result is a credit to their commitment, with a spacious vintage-style kitchen, dining and living area in the extension, which opens to the back yard. It was built by Natural Kitchens and the joinery is solid timber. Meg says they bought the best appliances they could find, and it works very well as a functional space. The bathroom is bright and sunny with porcelain tiles and a clawfoot bath, and the adjacent laundry is tucked neatly away. The lounge with its wood burner has a chinoiserie theme, in the form of a dramatic wallpapered feature panel, chosen because Richard is also an art critic and curator of contemporary Chinese art. Alfie’s bedroom is light and bright, as are the spare bedroom and master bedroom at the front of the house. Because the garden is such a focal point in their lives, it serves effectively as further rooms, with a number of spaces for dining and relaxing. The couple have noticed a lot of changes in the “...People who’ve dreamed of having a garden are going to be thrilled with what’s on offer.” neighbourhood during their time in residence, with the arrival of Farro Fresh, lots of new specialty shops and cafes and, of course, old favourites such as Harvest Wholefoods and Mamata Bakery, which are still as popular as ever. They’re moving to West

Auckland. “It makes sense for us to move because that’s where I work,” says Meg. “We’ll miss all of this, but we have some land at Swanson, which we’ve already begun planting, and the school we’ve chosen for Alfie is out that way too.” She and Richard hope that the new owner of their Westmere home will keep the garden with all its treasures, because a lot of love has gone into it and the fruit trees will be yielding their magnificent bounty for many years to come. Lynn Lacy-Hauck from Ray White Ponsonby says that this is a property she would be happy to buy herself. “So much care has gone into it and people who’ve always dreamed of having a garden are going to be so thrilled to discover what’s on offer. “It’s definitely a property that you need to see and feel because photos just don’t do it justice.” Sale: Auction March 11 Contact: Lynn Lacy-Hauck, Ray White, 021 190 0611; Cristine Casares, 021 333 615