Andrea and Pete say the garden enhances their sense of wellbeing and happiness daily

Now, after nearly a quarter of a century, the statuesque podocarps (rimu, kauri, kahikatea, lancewood and rewarewa) and beeches (mountain and silver) give shade and protection to the shorter-lived under-storey species, including nīkau, kānuka, cabbage trees, native brooms and ferns of all variety, including mamaku and silver ferns. If they’d grown only native shrubs, their garden would not have developed such an authentic forest-like feeling of a natural environment. Nor would it be long-lived as native shrubs, which unlike their giant tree cousins, have short life spans.

But perhaps the highlight of all the many achievements at Moritaki is the mountains-to-the-sea water garden, designed by a Japanese landscaper whom Andrea met casually while visiting her mother in Christchurch.

Andrea, already intrigued by the principles with which the Japanese bring order and calm into their gardens — hence the (sometimes disobediently wet) dry stream — made friends with the landscaper, Hiro Yoshida, and discussed goals for her Blenheim property. She was taken aback some months later to receive an email stating he was on his way from Japan to design her garden.

Pete freaked out, his first thought being, “Oh Lord, how much is this going to cost me, this man coming from Japan to design my garden?”

“As an accountant, that’s the first thing he thinks of: ‘How much is this going to cost me?’” says Andrea.

“Fortunately,” says Pete, “he just wanted a few days skiing at Rainbow Ski Field, so all good.”

“All good?” It’s such an understatement for the wonders of the design, which sees a small stream emerging from the “mountains”, burbling and chortling over boulders and stones to the “sea”.

It is not only Andrea and Pete enjoying the show, but appreciative birds come to bathe, drink, chirp and chortle on the beach. Tūī arrived a few years ago (perhaps attracted by the pair of taylor’s gold kōwhai bushes that flower profusely through the darkest days of winter). Bellbirds, too, are regulars now. And frogs like to spend their summers here.

This very clever water garden contains many contrasting visual elements, such as the fast- and slow-flowing water. Sometimes the stream burbles; in other areas, as in the pond, it is silent. There are rough mountain rocks and smooth beach pebbles; small mountain plants line the stream’s path down the mountain, while lush and large ferns droop their elegant foliage towards the still lagoon waters. It’s a triumph.

And one that Pete and Andrea say enhances their sense of wellbeing and happiness daily. Just as the clever designer knew it would when he positioned it to be connected to all the living areas of their home.

“The Japanese are rather beautiful in their thinking about gardens,” says Andrea, whose own thinking is also rather beautiful. And Pete observes that when he returns from holiday, he often wonders why he left this paradise at all.

NZ Life & Leisure