Westridge Garden

The garden of Richard Cadness and Geoffrey Haughey in Titirangi is situated in the Waitakere Ranges Scenic Park of forested hills on the outskirts of Auckland city. The property nestles on a hillside among native nikau palms, ferns and trees. It is a garden with a distinctive New Zealand flavour which was started in 1974. The soil is clay which is well mulched with bark.

In their own style Richard and Geoffrey have emulated the traditional New Zealand forest walk, which often uses timber walkways. For paths they have laid permanent hard paving instead of using wood. Beside the paths the canopy of mature native trees, in which there are epiphites such as the little white rata, is underplanted with camellias, masses of clivias and other shade loving plants. There is a large Matai black pine, a colourful collection of bromeliads and beside the house, a small varigated box-edged formal garden. Native birdsong enhances the sub-tropical background which beckons with mysterious grotto-like darkness and sunny glades.

Glossary