Albion
When Pam and her husband Carl arrived from the UK 14 years ago to Masterton, they swapped their cottage garden for a quarter acre urban grassed section on the flat.
Mature neighbouring trees cast a heavy shade over their property, so they factored this into their plan – housing sheds on the shady side.
5 Te Ore Ore Road
Masterton
Inspired by English Gardens, and pioneer designer Gertrude Jekyll, the Torringtons set to creating a series of rooms to bring a little bit of England closer to home.
One of Gertrude’s gardening principles is that gardens should be slowly revealed – leading visitors through – rather than being visible all at once. She also encouraged height in gardens– not just from trees, but from structures – trellis, archways, walls to connect different areas.
Albion Garden has discrete areas – shrubbery, a shade garden, roses and a perennial border, a walled vegetable garden and a Japanese garden.
You’ll see rustic gates, driftwood screens, brick paths (from locally demolished chimneys) and idiosyncratic art throughout. This is Carl’s contribution – he loves to repurpose materials to bring structure to the garden.
Read More
The vege garden maximises space with seven raised beds, espaliered pears, apple and plum trees. Berries are plentiful too, plus a big fig tree, two grape vines and persimmons. Somehow they all manage to fit the compact space.
Expect to see plenty of colour with climbing flowering roses, a rare tree peony, clematis, day lilies, irises and japonica in bloom.
Listening to the sounds of cascading water from any of the three water features is a relaxing treat for Carl and Pam – a private and peaceful place to call home.
Albion is a newcomer to the garden tour – it is the first time opening to the public, and Pūkaha is very grateful for the support.
GALLERY
