Julz looks after the roses and other flowers, while John is "the digger" and looks after the vegetable garden and the composting.
"I like the cottage look - organised chaos is a good way to describe it. I love roses and other old-fashioned flowers like violets and iris," Julz said.
Amongst the roses is a sitting area with a table and chairs under a big magnolia tree. In the back part of the garden is John's thriving vegetable garden, which has spilled over into the neighbour's garden.
"The neighbours don't use that part of their garden - it was a bit of a wilderness - so John has taken it over," Julz said.
Julz loves "gardening for free" and is always collecting seeds and cuttings.
"This year I've been experimenting with growing roses from hips [seed pods], and it's been very interesting. What I like about it is is that it's very serendipitous - you never know what the roses will turn out like. Some are like the plant they came from, but some can be very different."
Julz planted most of the roses in the garden, and some are to remember loved ones who have died.
A rose called "Fond Memories" was planted when Julz's mother died.
Two other roses, "Beloved" and "Loving Memory", represent two of John's brothers who have died, and were taken from cuttings of roses in Lucy's old garden in Wainuiomata.
"This one is called 'Best Friends' and the ashes of my old dog, Smudgie, are buried under here," Julz said.
She said the secret to growing good roses is to give them lots of nitrogen.
"They love things like sheep poo. I prune them hard every third year, and give them a softer prune in the years between.
"You also have to make sure you keep feeding them and de-heading them."
Julz said she and John spend a lot of time in the garden, although it depends on the time of year.
"My mum always said that if you spend an hour a day in your garden you'll keep on top of everything, and I agree with that."
