House and Garden Tour

The Moosey House Gardens are fairly flowery by nature, full of roses and perennials, spring bulbs, and small ornamental grasses. The Moosey house is framed by Wisteria in spring and climbing roses cover the patio pergola in summer.

The two tiled patios and the decking are definitely good places to relax apres gardening. Settle down comfortably with a coffee and a book, by the fragrant rose Compassion, and before long you'll be joined by one of the cats. Look around and you'll spy abandoned cushions, old cups of tea, and discarded gardening tools. The steps are cluttered with pots and containers full of flowers and vegetables.

In theory the house gardens should be the best-weeded gardens on the property. There's no excuse to forget to keep them tidy. Aargh! I hope you enjoy your visit. And I do hope those weeds aren't too noticeable in the House and Garden Tour photographs...

Introducing the House GardensIntroducing the House Gardens...
The house gardens are easy to enjoy - two tiled patios with garden seats and tables provide the perfect place for a quick coffee break or a family meal. On the east side there's a decking which houses a small collection of foliage plants in pots - an ancient Astelia takes pride of place. And there are lovely views all around of the other gardens beyond...
House Garden ImagesHouse Garden Images...
The house doesn't change at all (apart from the occasional paint spruce up) - nor do the shapes and locations of the borders around the house. But the plants therein? That's another story! This page presents a collection of my recent house garden images.
Big Gum TreeBig Gum Tree...
The BIG GUM grows up the slope near the house, in the house lawn. This is an Australian Eucalyptus tree, variety unknown, which was here when we arrived. Maybe it's an odd choice for a lawn, but I usually love it. Just sometimes I don't...
Patio FurniturePatio Furniture...
I use the house patios nearly all the year round - on spring mornings, for summer barbecues in the early evening, autumn coffee breaks - and in winter, when the sun is shining, sitting with a book and a cup of tea. Some days I just gaze and dream, or plan my next garden development...
Pergola Wisteria FloweringPergola Wisteria Flowering...
The Wisteria was planted to grow up and over the house patio pergolas, replacing a pair of rust-prone New Dawns. It's a delicate pale purple shade when in flower - but what a beautiful fragrance!
Disney Garden GnomesDisney Garden Gnomes...
Oops. Back in the day I lowered the tone of my house gardens by allowing a group of freshly painted Disney gnomes to take up residence. Their bright red hats were clearly visible from the house patio. At a distance, in spring, these cheerful chaps would often get mistaken for tulips...
Feeding the BirdsFeeding the Birds...
The house patio pergola is a safe place to hang my various bird feeders in winter. It's high, with nowhere for cats to hide, sneak up, and pounce. And I can watch the feeding antics from the warmth of the house.
Head GardenerHead Gardener...
The Head Gardener can often be found relaxing on the house patio. This is the perfect spot to read a gardening magazine in the sun, or just snooze and enjoy the garden.
Erigeron - Mexican DaisyErigeron - Mexican Daisy...
Mexican daisies (Erigeron) self-seed around the patio steps. These beautiful little plants are actually considered undesirable in New Zealand, and aren't allowed to be propagated or sold in nurseries. No-one told them about seeding!
Outdoor Garden LampOutdoor Garden Lamp...
The lamp which sits in the corner of the garden by the car lay-by is the only outdoor light in my garden. It's never cleaned because of the resident spiders - I like to keep my garden spiders happy.
Big Bronze PhormiumBig Bronze Phormium...
In the small garden between the decking and the house I planted a big dark bronze Phormium, with a Mutabilis rose climbing up the house wall behind. Red dahlias kept on appearing in front of it each summer, as did the perennial Forget-Me-Not Alkanet.
Jeremy CatJeremy Cat's Memorial Garden...
By the house patio is small memorial garden in which Jeremy the cat has her final resting place. In it I've planted some of my favourite foliage plants like variegated Miscanthus, as well as roses. Jeremy the cat may be long gone, but her garden still evokes happy memories.
Garden Table CatGarden Table Cat...
There's always been at least one patio table upon which the Moosey cats can relax and loll about. The patio is sunny and sheltered, and a wary eye can be kept on any movement in the house. One wouldn't want to miss out on any food snacks...
Garden AngelGarden Angel...
Every garden should have at least one garden angel. Mine was an early garden present from a student, and when she first came I popped her on the house decking, in the middle of a collection of decking pots.
Pots and FernsPots and Ferns...
Peeping around the side of the house towards the Laundry Garden there are many beautiful late spring surprises. It's the perfect place for some pots filled with foliage plants. And the ferns? Every year there are new clumps of this and that in my house gardens.
David AustinDavid Austin's Mary Rose...
The small garden immediately outside the big bay window features Mary Rose, one of David Austin's famous English roses. There are also white Flower Carpet roses planted in here, with lots of self-sown blue forget-me-nots and nigella.
Crab-Apple TreeCrab-Apple Tree...
An original Crab-Apple tree, possibly the variety 'Jack Humm', has always been a focal point of the house gardens. I enjoy the blossom in spring and the bright red apples throughout winter.
Watering CansWatering Cans...
My two blue plastic watering cans are extremely useful for the patio pots. No point in hiding them away - they're used twice a day in the heat of summer.
Garden Patio StepsGarden Patio Steps...
The patio steps are such a nice place to sit with a cup of coffee and some cats or a dog for company. Each year the pots here get filled with my latest favourites. The climbing rose Compassion on the pergola at the side of the steps is very fragrant.
House & Garden Patio PathHouse & Garden Patio Path...
A short paved path leads to the house patios and the doors. When I first arrived at Mooseys I was in my Cottage Garden phase, and immediately planted catmint to sprawl over the patio path edges.
Rose CompassionRose Compassion...
Two strong climbing Compassion roses are a delight growing on the house patio pergola. They are beautifully fragrant, and flower from late spring well into the beginning of winter.
CatmintCatmint...
Cat-lovers aren't supposed to have any one favourite cat that has shared their garden and life. But my white cat called B-Puss, who lived for such a short, beautiful time, would definitely be a top contender. What a stunning, quirky cat he was!
The Fairy RoseThe Fairy Rose...
The front patio garden is a source of pink warmth and wonderment from spring through to late autumn. The two pretty pink Fairy roses which grow here seem to bloom forever.
Statue of a PigletStatue of a Piglet...
There are few statues in the Moosey garden, apart from this cute piglet who stands guard in the centre of the path to the house patio. He has considerable sentimental value, and provides visitors with an interesting obstacle to step over.
Breakfast on the PatioBreakfast on the Patio...
Breakfast on the patio table, gazing at the garden, warming up the gardening mind and muscles, maybe writing a list of thing to do for the day - what a joy this is. Every season has its own mood, every week there's something new to admire.
Roses by the PatioRoses by the Patio...
As you walk around the lawn past the big bay window, the many roses in the patio borders can be appreciated. The plantings sprawl over the edge, and I've encouraged Angelica to self-seed in behind.
The Year of the Patio PotThe Year of the Patio Pot...
Every year is the Year of the Patio Pot, though the style, requirements, and longevity of the inhabitants can vary considerably! Throughout the months there'll be flowers, foliage, and edibles on the house patios and decking...
Rose Golden TributeRose Golden Tribute...
In New Zealand, down 'there' surrounded by ocean, we often feel isolated from world events and news. Not so in the year 2001, when I planted this rose called Golden Tribute to make my small statement for world peace.
New Dawn Rose ArchNew Dawn Rose Arch...
Back in the gardening day I planted two New Dawn roses each side of the front path, to frame the entrance to the lower patio and the house. The roses formed a beautiful archway and gently dropped pale pink petals on the patio beneath.
Succulents In PotsSucculents In Pots...
A collection of garden pots sits by the sliding doors to the patio. These are filled with several varieties of succulents, and they get enough frost shelter to stay here all year round.
Sedum & Bumble BeeSedum & Bumble Bee...
I've planted a sedum which has creamy white flowers on the edge of Jeremy's border. Its leaves are clear light green and fit well with the underplantings of Stachys Limelight. It's a bee plant.
Early Days in the House GardensEarly Days in the House Gardens...
The house garden borders were already organised when I moved to Mooseys, with tiled patios and a decking already laid. But the planting scheme was completely functional, consisting mainly of evergreen Pittosporums, and the soil was covered with thick bark chips laid over weed mat. No flowers, no roses! That changed immediately - in went the collection of roses I'd brought from my old garden.
Garden Patio CatsGarden Patio Cats...
My cats have always loved the patio. It's the perfect place to sit and think, or stretch out in the sun and show your tummy. In the case of Tiger the tortoiseshell, that tummy is rather large!
Garden CastleGarden Castle...
In the car lay-by garden, partly hidden by some hostas and forget-me-nots, there used to be a small castle. I would have lots of fun imagining which room I would have liked to live in.
Cat and MouseCat and Mouse...
This is an almost daily drama conducted on the house patio. Looking like symbols of David and Goliath, Stumpy faces up to rodent number 154. The outcome of this particular encounter does not make good family viewing, however.....Goliath won.
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