Trends New Zealand NZ New Home Trends Vol. 30/10 | Page 153

solution was to step the patio to meet the lower ground level, and to introduce timber boardwalks and cantilevered steps down the hill. “One pathway leads down to a timber bridge across a pool – one of two pools and two waterfalls in the garden,” says Read. “These feature moss-covered natural rock formations set amid lush tropical planting. Essentially we set out to create a tropical rainforest garden, removing 60% of the existing acmena trees. The rest were retained to shelter the landscape and to screen it from neighbouring properties.” Key plants include a wide variety of palms, cycads and colourful and scented tropical shrubs, such as gardenia, frangipani, hibiscus, heliconia, ginger, philodendrons, orchids, bromeliads, and calathea. New Zealand native plants include karaka, nikau, tree ferns, pohutukawa, kohekohe and taraire. The garden paths extend right down to a circular lawn and a series of children’s play equipment. This area also links back to the swimming pool. The existing spa pool was moved to better integrate with the new landscape – bathers now overlook a waterfall. Facing page and above: Mossy rocks edge the two new pools and waterfalls that drop down the hillside. One of the timber boardwalks forms a bridge across a pool on the upper level. Above left: Bathers in the spa pool can be completely surrounded by nature. In addition to gold awards already won by the original garden, the new landscape has won two gold and a silver award in the Landscapes of Distinction Awards 2014. search | save | share at trendsideas.com 151