Three decades of complete joy

OPEN SPACES: Sue and Russell Poff relax in their garden. PHOTOS/ STUART MUNRO

Sue and Russell Poff have been working on their garden for 30 years and say it is a complete joy.

The Otamatea property with two hectares is open-spaced with a big patch of grass, where they used to graze sheep and cows.

It also contained an orchard with apricots, nectarines and peaches but that was replaced with a tennis court that has since been removed. Mrs Poff added french doors to the house for an indoor, outdoor flow to the garden.

They had someone with a strong arm and a younger back to help with the heavy work.

A Leylandii hedge was planted to get shelter from the wind and the garden received great sun.

"I spend a lot of time in the garden. I would not do it unless I loved it," she said.

The pohutakawa tree brings in the tui's and Mrs Poff says her "English garden" with crab apple trees and silver birch is a place she can drift in and out of all day.

Mrs Poff says she's a bit of a weed freak but the roses provide great joy.

She also grows macadamia nut trees, plum and avocado trees and has a vegetable patch.

Mrs Poff got her gardening skills from her mother and gave up work because she had so much she needed to do in the garden.

Two weddings have been held in the garden, Mr and Mrs Poff's daughter's and a Thai friend's.

Her advice is to enjoy gardening and have a strong back.

"You can only do it if you enjoy it," she said.