Loopline Haven
Kathryn and Jeremy’s previous garden was attached to a historic 1870s home in Featherston, surrounded by ancient trees and formal plantings. That garden was featured in the 2019 Pūkaha Garden Tour.
Their current property on Loopline in Ōpaki is a complete contrast. Just four years ago, the site was a bare paddock. Two acres were sectioned off from a larger lifestyle block and rabbit-proofed in preparation for garden development. Apart from established shelter belts, the only existing tree was a mature Gleditsia, which helped determine the siting of their new home.
Loopline Haven
140 Loopline
Ōpaki, Masterton
Le Grá serving wine and platters available
Designing the garden posed several challenges: retaining the long, open views to the Tararua Ranges while introducing structure to break up the expansive space. Unlike their former garden, this section experiences more frosts and stronger winds, so hardy, sun-loving plants were essential. With a new build, the couple opted for a less formal garden style.
The soil was typical of the region—very stony with a clay pan—so each plant was installed with the help of a wrecking bar and nova flow pipes for irrigation. Water is drawn from an on-site bore, which has been known to run dry, making drought-resistant planting a necessity.
Read More
Initially, with no trees or shrubs, there was little bird or bee activity. Fruit trees were hand-pollinated in the first season. Now, thanks to uncut grass areas that encourage insect life, the garden buzzes with bees. Wood stacks serve both as windbreaks and shelter for creatures. Composting, bokashi systems, and natural insect control methods such as apple cider vinegar and neem oil are used throughout the orchard.
Today, the garden is a mix of open and enclosed spaces. Visitors will find vegetable beds, an orchard and citrus grove, a walk-in berry frame, a picking garden, and even a developing woodland area. The plantings include less common varieties of citrus, herbs, and trees such as Szechuan pepper.
Loopline Haven offers a peaceful rural setting with sweeping views of the Tararuas. Close to town yet a world away, it is a rewarding, productive garden designed for sustainability, biodiversity, and beauty. With the garden now producing more food than needed, Kathryn and Jeremy take great joy in sharing its bounty with others.
GALLERY
