Mamie Herlihy's garden

Mamie Herlihy, of Otaika Valley south of Whangarei, admits to a severe addiction to rocks.
“I’m a rockaholic. I can’t help bringing back more rocks to add to the garden every time I go for a walk,’’ she says.
It’s obvious she does a lot of walking as volcanic rocks line all of the garden beds on the property and have been used in various features, with more underway.
It’s one of the attractions to the property for Mamie, who originally comes from the volcanic region of Okaihau where dry stone walls are equally common.
The rich, volcanic soil is also an advantage – although she grumbles that while plants thrive, the weeds do even better.
With a house that is about 100 years old, Mamie has created a cottage-style garden that complements the wide verandahs and large sash windows.
“I’m a sucker for flowers, and with this style of garden there is always some colour somewhere in the garden.’’
In the 18 years she has lived there, trees and shrubs she planted have grown to tower over her.
She treasures all her trees and shrubs, to the point she resists for as long as possible before cutting one down that has become diseased.
“I become very fond of them and I always like to give them a good chance of coming right.’’
She was not so benevolent about a prickly bougainvillea that had snagged her once too often.
“A friend helped me get rid of it by hauling it out over the garden fence with a tractor. It damaged the fence a bit but it was only way we could get it out.’’
Whenever she runs out of room, Mamie has a tendency to extend the garden.
This was also her solution when cattle kept escaping from an old holding paddock.
“The cattle were forever getting out, so I solved the problem by making it into a garden,’’ she says.
With most of the property now leased out for grazing of dry stock, Mamie decided it was time to trade in the old tractor.
“It was too big and it never went when I wanted it to because the battery was always going flat. Someone suggested I should trade it in on a ride-on mower and trailer so that’s what I did. I realised I didn’t really need the tractor any more and the mower has had much more use. It was a great transfer.’’
Blue is a recurrent colour around the gardens, with sun umbrella, benches, fences and other features – including old cart wheels at the entrance all painted the same colour.
Pots scattered around the courtyard are the same midnight blue colour, making a coherent design.
At the back of the garden, Mamie has a series of large raised vegetable gardens, which she now swears by.
“I can sit on the edges and reach in to weed. It’s so much easier on your back.’’
Planted nearby is a collection of Eucalyptus Baby Blue, an attractive foliage tree that is prized by florists. Leucodendrons have also been planted.
Mamie says she has never pursued her original plan to supply local florists, but the trees are still there so she may do one day.
Mamie’s jack russell terrier, Dawn, fossicks around in the garden whenever she is working and helps with gardening by burying avocadoes collected from surrounding orchards.
“Thanks to Dawn I’m always finding avocado trees sprouting in the garden.’’
However, the dog does earn its keep by keeping wild peacocks at bay.
“Dawn works much better than the high fence we had put up to keep them out.’’