Rambling in the garden
Athenree garden among those that can be seen
Ann-Marie and Kevin Evans have lived and developed the garden at 99 Athenree Rd and once again, will feature their garden in the Rotary Garden Ramble.
Ann-Marie says they are lucky to live in Athenree next to the harbour and their home has been their pleasure.
“What fun I have had creating things out of Trademe finds or recycling things I have hoarded over the years. It’s quite satisfying when you finally find a use for something,” she says. “Kevin gets quite bemused when I take something new and make it look old and something old and make it look new.”
The pair think of gardening as fun and often take to the internet learn how to plaster, stencil or make a stone wall.
The large garden is purposely kept low maintenance. Church ruins and an orangerie have been created to add atmosphere and several weddings have been held here.
“The house that existed had a European feel which I have embraced but at the same time celebrating New Zealand natives and encouraging birdlife.
“In the beginning we focused on being self-sufficient in food production with animals and planted 40 fruit and nut trees, vegetables and artichokes.
The family left home, they have their own orchards and homes but we had surplus so with my grandchildren we started up the Athenree Food and Produce stand which has been well supported by the local community.
“I hate to see good food wasted just because it is not perfect, and a gardener knows the best flavoured fruit is the one that has fallen on the ground as it has been tree
ripened. I preserve and bottle fruit every year and juice orange and
lime juice to drink during the summer.
“Tilly’s Teahouse evolved from scrolling through Trademe and it had a reserve of $1 and was from The Elms being Volkners cottage in Tauranga. Of course it cost a lot more transporting the 42sq m cottage out onto the site and getting permits etc, but I was living the dream when I got to scour demolition yards seeking doors, fireplaces, shutters and finials to