From zero garden to hero garden
by Metropol | February 4, 2026 8:33 am
A majestic group of pyramid-like conifers draw visitors up the driveway of Jim Kettle and Tracey O’Callaghan’s Rangiora property. The formal garden entrance belies the colour and delight that lies beyond.
“Those trees were already here,” says Tracey when I ask if they require much maintenance to keep their structured shape. “We’ve never really done anything to them, they just grow like that.” That explains it.
The couple moved to Rangiora five years ago from Wairarapa where they had lived on a 10 acre block. “We wanted to downsize. We liked this area because it’s got good services,
it’s near an airport and there are plenty of golf courses for Jim (a keen golfer). It’s also off the main road, which was important to us,” says Tracey.
This new place ticked all the boxes. The house, just 13 years old, was modern and comfortable whilst the garden space was mostly taken up by a football pitch. Inspired rather than daunted by this large expanse of grass, Tracey and Jim got to work.
Tracey started to design a layout with three defined areas stretching back across the garden, including plans for a small rectangular pond by the house. With her idea sketched out Jim hired a digger and they began creating the flower beds and digging the pond out.
“We wanted to create a relaxing space for us to enjoy and also to create an ecosystem. Now we have bees and all kinds of birds and I was so excited when we first found frogs in the pond,” says Tracey.
The first area, directly in front of the house, is a wild carnival of colour, with pastels on one side and a ‘flame garden’ with reds, oranges and yellows on the other. There are different heights and textures from towering pink lilies to the small purple prickly balls of sea holly, dahlias, calendulas, hydrangeas and more – all densely planted. This is Tracey’s spot, she favours a less formal garden. Jim wanted something more structured with a formal rose garden and stepping through to the second area there’s a careful circular bed of beautiful roses. In the third area are the natives, all were knee-high when they were first planted.
Elsewhere, there are different seating areas; a memorial spot for pets that have passed away where their names are marked in carved Ōamaru stone (created by Jim), there’s a prolific vegetable garden and a small orchard. The couple are just about self-sufficient when it comes to vegetables, says Tracey.
In a small triangular paddock, three sheep graze peacefully, getting on with their work of keeping the grass down. In a small garden area near the front of the house a cabin is tucked away – and this is where Tracey welcomes hypnotherapy clients.
Making it work
Of course, big gardens come with big costs. As any gardener knows, plants can be pricey and landscaping pricier. Trying to create a garden out of nothing in a few years must be an expensive exercise? Well, it doesn’t have to be, say Tracey and Jim. They have created the garden and built a community around them. Friends and neighbours are always happy to help out and Tracey is heavily involved in the local Timebank (community bartering). The couple have ‘rescued’ plants that friends didn’t want, swapped plants with others in the local garden community and spent plenty of time looking through end of season bargains at garden centres.
Mulch, mulch, mulch is the answer they both give when asked for their top gardening tip. They are sparse with watering and even on a warm summer’s day the flowers look perky and happy rather than droopy and dehydrated. That’s the miracle of mulching heavily and often, they both agree. There is also a layer of weedmat underneath much of the mulch which helps to protect the plant roots and keep the soil moist. Saving on watering and on plants.
Opposites attract
When it comes to division of labour, Jim has a view. “Tracey’s creative and I am the do-er,” he says with a laugh.
This couple might have different approaches to gardens, but they are both brimming with enthusiasm for the space they have created and their future plans. Their cheerful, hands-on approach has created this beautiful garden out of a patch of grass – and that’s no small achievement in just five years.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/from-zero-garden-to-hero-garden/