The envy of many a gardener

If gardeners succumbed to deadly sins, there'd be a green glow in Springvale whenever they called at Alex and Jean Maule's Stafford St residence.
In 10 months, starting almost from scratch, the couple have created a garden of outstanding appeal.
Envy, of course, isn't part of a gardener's nature, so they have to make do with a hint of the green-eyed monster. Mr and Mrs Maule won Wanganui's best new entrant and home and garden improvement award this year.
When Chronicle photographer Nikki Williams called in just before Christmas the ravages of sporadic storms were apparent and, in any case, some blooms were past their peak.
The Maules were apologetic. Good grief, their pride and joy was still a showplace.
When they shifted from Bullock Drive in mid-February the property had 40 roses and not much else.
"It was just a matter of designing something that looked nice," said Mr Maule, a retired plumber.
Mrs Maule's skills as a floral artist and former florist obviously helped. She has an eye for balance.
They put their concept on paper and implemented it with a mixture of flair, perseverance and ? within the limits imposed by dicky backs ? hard work.
The solution involved curved borders, new paving, moving a shed and fence and taking care to plant things in the right spots. The roses were retained.
"The soil is generally pretty good," Mr Maule said. "We get stable manure and mix it into the ground. If it's very hard I put it through the mulcher and it comes out like sawdust. Any greenery we cut down goes through the shredder and on the garden."
Self-respecting weeds do not appear at this address, spraying for pests and diseases is kept to a minimum and the Maules grow about 80 percent of their flowers from seed.
The result is a garden of great variety, strong impact and good health. Some say it's like an old-styled English cottage garden. Treading a short pathway releases wonderful herb scents. When plants have finished flowering, the gaps are promptly filled.
Soon the conservatory will be resplendent with begonias.
"We've got lots of ideas for next year," Mrs Maule said.
The couple insist they are not slaves to their garden.
"We do a wee bit every day," he said. "I just love pottering in the garden"? while Mrs Maule is watching Coronation Street, for instance. Perfectly understandable.
The garden supervisor is an affectionate cat called Jazz, who loves visitors.
PICTURED: An award winner inside a year? a glimpse of the Stafford St showplace developed by Alex and Jean Maule, pictured with grandsons Cameron (left) and Ryver.