Country: Glorious gardens

By CEDRIC GRAY

Tom and Margaret O'Connor can now relax in their newly-erected pergola and admire the rambling cottage gardens at their 1.47 ha property in Tuakau Rd, on the outskirts of Pukekohe.

For the last seven years Margaret has worked the soil while Tom has kept the lawns looking a picture with the help of his ride-on mower.

The result is one of the most picturesque gardens in the region, overflowing with beds of perennials that provide year-round colour, and further beautified by a variety of specimen trees, shrubs, neat hedges and more than 100 camellia trees.

An ornamental pond is a highlight in one corner, while a highly productive orchard brings contrast to another. The gardens attract scores of visitors during Pukekohe's annual garden rambles, and provide the ideal setting for wedding photographs.

A tree-lined, sealed driveway leads to the immaculate four-bedroom villa, which was built in the 1860s as a small cottage and extended by a previous owner.

Several rooms open to lovely sheltered verandas for fantastic outdoor entertaining and relaxation. Privacy is created by a long picket fence frontage and silver birch trees.

The house, which has been completely redecorated in recent years, has two family living areas, two bathrooms, a formal lounge and a modern farmhouse kitchen with attractive stained timber and exposed brick stove surrounds. A woodburner provides winter heating.

The outbuildings include a double garage with a concrete floor and three-phase power. Within a few minutes' drive of Pukekohe town centre and formerly used as a retail outlet, the building has a retail permit.

The property, with a capital valuation of $445,000, will be auctioned on March 16 with LJ Hooker, Pukekohe. Contact Graeme Willson on 09 238 4169 for details.