Horticultural enthusiasts, Sue and Simon Nyhof, lose track of time in the splendour of their central Otago garden.
A story brought to you in partnership with Resene.
Halfway between Cromwell and Wanaka under the shade of hundred-year-old gum trees lies the playground of these two horticulturalists. Sue and Simon Nyhof curated their two-hectare property to showcase year-round colour, ardently looking for ways to insert a splash of ruby or soulful blue amidst the green. Where the plants don’t grow, a bubbling brook draws you down the viridescent lawn to a water race frequented by the couple’s grandchildren.
Five years ago, their daughter and son-in-law were looking for rural property to create an active, free-range life for their children. After they found one, a subdivision took place, enabling Sue and Simon to purchase land for their retirement. The house was built with three wings; the bedroom wing identified by stained cedar, the living quarters consisting of glass and stone, and a garage of black corrugated iron.
Six months after the build, Sue and Simon glanced across the landscape — the curved lawn, the whispering creek, its many, many trees — and wondered where to begin; they had never started a garden from scratch, instead adding to those already established by previous owners. This was a new challenge, though they already knew they would champion it by focusing on year-round colour.
Verdum, aubergine, and violet hues with a planting combination of ornamental grass, heuchera, lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) and lavender.
Pebbled courtyard off the bedroom wing.
During the colder months, you’ll find bronze Heucharas and Libertias in bloom, and textured grasses enveloping the banks. White trunks of birches stand out amongst the hunter greens of winter, while under an autumn sky the red Cornus (dogwood) creates a spray of yellow and orange hues. Sue and Simon adore the red bark of the maples, which love every season. On one side of the house, scattered over the bank is a host of perennials and hostas creating the summer blast of crimson, a burst of crowded greens and purple.
‘My style is all about creating a feeling,’ says Sue. ‘It needs to flow, feel relaxed, so you can wander without being restricted.’ Sue comes from a long line of gardeners. She grew up amongst plants, helping her grandparents weed, transplanting flowers, or joining her father (a qualified horticulturalist) in the family vegetable patch. Whereas, before Sue met Simon, he was known for claiming, ‘I’m going to have green concrete!’ Fast forward several years, and Simon can be found in the greenhouse or tossing soil in one of their five vegetable patches. Sue explains that he is often ready to help with anything garden related. ‘Sue might come up with the idea,’ says Simon. ‘Though I’m often making it happen.’
A unique red rose brightening the garage.
Clipped bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) shrubs in the courtyard.
Looking out over The Gums, you’re struck by the varying layered hues and multiple textures. The Nyhof’s enjoy playing with little surprises — artistic treasures — for their family or visitors to discover around the place. Pots hidden amongst plants, wrought iron structures or sculptures, Totara posts marking grassy pathways. ‘The garden should make you smile,’ says Sue. She is looking out below the gum trees at an electric orange painted bench seat (Resene Hyperactive) that creates a pop of unexpected vibrancy.
The biggest take away for them has been the lesson of the weeds. Starting out, they spent hours with their gloved hands amongst weedy yarrow or red sorrel. Now they line the beds thick with mulch and compost, and weeding has become a burden of the past (well, almost). Mulch has become a key ingredient in their summer garden to retain moisture in the earth.
Autumn hues and hidden treasures against stained cedar cladding.
The palette of plants | In this collaboration between Sage Journal and Resene, we’re excited to explore how colour transforms outdoor spaces. This curated colour palette draws inspiration from the garden, its surroundings, and the personality of the gardeners who tend it. Just as the colours inside a home reflect its occupants, the shades chosen for a garden can reveal the gardener’s unique journey, extending creativity from indoors to out. We hope this story inspires you to see your own garden as a living work of art, shaped by both painted and planted colours throughout.
The garden has become home to second-hand plants sourced from their daughter’s land or the local marketplace. Regularly they’ll come across ads asking locals to ‘come and dig these out!’ alongside a photo of a lovely unwanted plant. Only last week, they dug out three conifers from a local’s garden and replanted them at The Gums. ‘We reuse plants whenever we can,’ says Sue. Though, Simon notes that ‘a nice plant in the wrong place doesn’t look right, because nature doesn’t work that way.’
Helping the locals recycle their plants has sparked unexpected relationships. Perhaps this has been the most surprising thing about curating the land; the amount of people interested in spending time on the grounds.
Over the last five years, people have reached out to Sue and Simon from Cromwell and other region’s gardening clubs expressing interest in viewing the property. As well as receiving referrals from friends, the couple belong to Facebook gardening clubs, which have increased the flow of foot traffic across the land. Sue and Simon put on a morning tea with coffee, and either guide these groups through the garden or let them enjoy the sun on their own during a morning jaunt. This month, a group of Americans are flying over and stopping in at The Gums. It’s a privilege that others can visit and relax on the land Sue and Simon call home.
The interloping of textured osteospermum and lilac lavender.
Sue and Simon in front of a prominent historic fence.
Having approached the garden as a team, Sue and Simon diverge on what they love most about the work of their hands. ‘There’s always something new to discover in the garden,’ says Simon. ‘I love that surprising element. You can’t see everything in one go.’ As a man who used to admire straight lines, he now embraces the haphazard character of the land. ‘Straight lines don’t exist in nature,’ he says. ‘I’ve learned to embrace a more natural flow.’
Sue can also admire the beautiful chaos, though her happy place is colour and texture. ‘I’m always looking for ways to improve the garden, adding a pop of colour in green areas.’ After visiting Resene earlier this year, they arrived home with a selection of new paints to colour their five rusting wheelbarrows; bursts of Resene Chetwode Blue, Resene Half Turbo and Resene Rapture will appear below the rhododendrons or between the roses. As the garden has become more established, the birdlife has increased; birds in flight creating little spots of colour across the sky.
The Gums is a place of give and take. Home to new blooms and repurposed plants, offering hospitality to family and strangers. It is with great joy that Sue and Simon have brought life to the land, and now invite others to play and ponder beneath the gum trees.
Earthy layers.
The garden behind the bedroom wing.
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Resene tips:
— Adding splashes of colour to your garden
Giving old garden items a fresh coat of paint is a simple way to brighten up your outdoor space. Sue and Simon are doing just that, soon-to-transform their rusting wheelbarrows into vibrant features using bold shades like Resene Chetwode Blue, Resene Half Turbo and Resene Rapture. They have also added a playful twist with a bench seat painted in Resene Hyperactive, an electric orange that pops brilliantly under the gum trees.
Here’s how you can achieve the same vibrant results:
How to restore an old bench seat:
CLEAN: Wash your bare or stained timber bench thoroughly using Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Scrub well, then rinse off with clean water and allow it to dry completely. If your bench seat is already painted, wash with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash instead.
PAINT: Apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in the colour of your choice for a durable finish. If you’d like a glossier finish which will make bright colours pop even more, use Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss) or Resene Enamacryl (gloss).
For paint old wheelbarrows:
PREPARE THE SURFACE: Use a wire brush (or an electric drill with a wire brush attachment) to remove any loose debris, rust or flaking paint. Lightly roughen or sand any remaining painted areas.
CLEAN: Wash the wheelbarrow with soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry completely.
PRIME: Spot-prime rusty areas with Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest anti-corrosive primer. Let it dry as recommended. Then, coat the entire surface with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer and allow to dry.
PAINT: Apply two coats of Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel in your chosen colour, allowing dry time between coats.
A splash of bold colour here and there can turn basic items into standout features, just like Sue and Simon!
After visiting Resene earlier this year, they arrived home with a selection of new paints to colour their five rusting wheelbarrows; bursts of Resene Chetwode Blue, Resene Half Turbo, and Resene Rapture will appear below the rhododendrons or between the roses.
Painting & staining with dark colours outside
If you’re planning a dark paint or stain colour outside, such as Resene Pitch Black, use the Resene CoolColour version of the colour to help reflect more heat and keep your coating and home cooler.
