The Yandle’s garden, which is a series of ‘rooms’, each with its own theme of colour, species and form, is part of the Katikati Rotary Club’s ‘Up the Garden Path’ ramble in November.

Large pond
The swamp in front of the home the couple built was excavated to form a large pond, and Chris and Andrew constructed the waterfall and stream which meanders through the gully to flow into it.

“I really admire people who can create a beautiful garden on a completely flat site as I think having a property with a variety of contour, such as this one, helps when it comes to decisions about what to plant where.”

Lorna loves trees, especially those with interesting bark as well as foliage so the almost treeless site is now full of evergreen, deciduous, native, exotic, ornamental and fruit trees too.

Among them is a tree which probably saved the lives of the crew of the vessel ‘Elizabeth’ in the late 1570s. Captained by John Winter, it was one of four ships accompanying Sir Francis Drake in the ‘Golden Hind’ on his round the world voyage of exploration.

“Winter was unable to round Cape Horn with Drake and turned back. His crew were sick with scurvy and went ashore to get help and were given tea made from the bark of this tree,” says Lorna.

In honour of Captain Winter, the tree is called Drimys winteri or ‘Winter’s Bark’ and its bark has since been found to be high in vitamin C. It’s a tall tree with attractive white flowers and grows among colourful perennials and annuals alongside a gently sloping lawn.

“Apparently it doesn’t taste anywhere near as nice as orange juice.”

A large pond, created from a former swamp, is a focal point of Chris and Lorna Yandle’s garden which is part of the Katikati Rotary Club’s ‘Up the Garden Path’ ramble in November.

Subtle changes
Lorna has planned the garden in a series of ‘rooms’ so as you stroll along its lawn or pathways, the plantings subtly change in a merging of colours, forms and species.

There’s a woodland of Japanese Maples, hellebores, daffodils and primroses. Native trees and shrubs under-planted with exotics for colour, flourish in the gully with its pretty stone waterfall.

Clever groupings of plants for colour and texture create the grey garden, conifer room and rhododendron walk with its spring bulbs and violets.

The focal point of the garden is the large pond with an island in the middle. The pond’s banks are closely planted with a mix of native and exotics, including iris which love the boggy environment. It’s also popular with visiting wild water fowl, including ducks and shags.

The garden’s colour and form changes with the season.

“I don’t have a favourite season. I love the way the garden looks at all times of the year,” says Lorna.

It’s taken 17 years to develop the garden but for Lorna it is and always will be a “work in progress” and one she thoroughly enjoys.

Chris Yandle and Andrew Townsend constructed this pretty waterfall in the Pahoia garden which is part of the Katikati Rotary Club’s ‘Up the Garden Path’ ramble in November.

Garden path
She and Chris have decided to share their garden with the public through the Katikati Rotary Clubs ‘Up the Garden Path’ ramble because all the proceeds go to help the Katikati community.

It is one of 13 stunning gardens open on Saturday and Sunday November 14 and 15. Tickets cost $20 per person for two days and there is a discounts for coach parties.

For further information phone 07 549 1837

Poor Knights lily, (Xeronema callistemon) grows in Chris and Lorna Yandle’s garden which is part of the Katikati Rotary Club’s ‘Up the Garden Path’ ramble in November.