Anam Cara
Anam Cara is a 53 acre property at the edge of the Hauraki plains. Cottage gardens, fruit orchards, veggie patches, extensive wetland and bush areas, equine shelters etc, are all part of this wonderful property.
Project: Here, I’m a gardener ’extraordinaire’ doing all garden jobs you can think of, including everything from design, composting, planting, veggie growing to fruit tree pruning, propagating, reforestation and much more!
I’m currently creating a flower path that links up with a hydrangea patch by the pond that is inspired by Monet paintings. We’re also planting and developing a multicolour Manuka bank and a cut flower garden for the granny flat.
Challenge: Some areas have poor soils (due to former farmers dumping rubbish and gravel etc.), extensive areas of invasive weeds and figuring out low maintenance resilient yet high appeal plantings that best will suit the microclimate.
Solution: Feeding the soil with horse manure, lime and planting trees have helped improve the soil greatly. Weeds like kikuyu grass has been massive reduced through forest and wetland planting. Once 2-3 years old the trees shade out the grass and it dies off.
Through trying out different plants and observing the land over the years we’ve come to know what plants work best. The learning is never-ending and that’s the beauty of it!
More photos coming soon…
TESTIMONIAL
From Wendy
We have had the pleasure of knowing Stina for seven years. During that time, she has managed our rental property gardens in Auckland and had considerable input developing our 53 acre property.
We have areas of traditional cottage gardens, large native areas, wetland restoration, orchards and vegetable gardens, equine shade and shelter areas and controlling weeds without chemicals (as much as possible) and masses of seed collection.
She has introduced me to Niwashi tools, regenerative soil practices, Maori medicinals, an endless range of plants I would never have considered, beautiful designs for the different areas to help cope with my indecisiveness, seasonal lists and gently helps me prioritise/have plants and products ready each month.
Before Stina arrived at our farm, I had planted over 50 plum trees. Stina now prunes them for shape and production, along with the other @50 fruit trees.
Because she has considerable experience maintaining gardens and is a multi-disciplinary artist, her designs show great flair, but are also practical.