Gardening with Gael Still learning after 30 years

Plant. This week instead of my usual cry to mulch, I consider it is the perfect time for planting.

“I planted celery last week,” said my friend and fellow gardener Marg, “and it has doubled in size.”
“Where did you buy the plants?” I asked.

“From Rowie at the market. Her plants have a really strong root system and I have experienced great success with all the veges I have planted,” she said.

I too have bought from Rowie at the market, particularly the box hedging plants for the border of Lombard St at the Block. Each week there is a new flowering geranium that also finds its way into the boot of the car. Box thinks I will look for any excuse at all to frequent the market.
Time, I decided, for a visit to Rowie’s nursery in Paparoa to discover the secrets behind the success of her plants.

Yesterday, a beautiful clear autumnal day, Marg, my father-in-law Harry, and I headed over to The Pines, the name of Rowie and Pete Panhuis’s home, nursery and B&B which is situated near the brow of the hill before entering Paparoa. The drive winds down to an enormous oak tree whose aged branches spread up and over the drive forming an arch and framing the first glimpse of one of the most beautiful old homesteads I have seen.

Nestled in an established garden on the side of the hill and framed by a collar of mature bush, The Pines was originally built in the late 1880’s. The homestead is the September feature in the book Pioneering Life and the Kauri Tree, A Perpetual Calendar by Sarah Charles, celebrating the first 50 years of the Kauri Museum .

Rowie has been growing plants for 30 years. Gardening is in her genes. Her Grandmother was a florist and her father started the Grange Garden Centre in Warkworth.

“It’s in the blood,” says Rowie. Eighteen years ago they bought The Pines, 25 acres, an empty cowshed and a good water supply. The nursery started slowly with perennials and shrubs from cuttings from family gardens. Rowie says her husband Pete has been a wonderful support in establishing the nursery in the old cowshed.

Initially she began selling plants at the Paparoa Store. When Northland Plants finished growing vegetable plants an opening was provided for Rowie to begin growing veges. Now she also supplies Sunshine Organics in Maungaturoto although she doesn’t claim to be strictly organic, instead tries organic principles whenever possible and encourages organic gardening.

“I am learning all the time,” she says.
Now there is a huge variety of plants in her nursery. She is passionate about them all. Her son Ricky has a deep regard for native trees and shrubs and collects seeds locally and gets a wide variety of natives growing for her nursery.

For a complete range of perennials, annuals, shrubs and natives visit Rowie at the Mangawhai Market under the oak on Saturday. She will happily grow to order. Paparoa shops are the lucky recipients of tubs and hanging baskets featuring her flowers which she donates.

Sharing knowledge and plants is her philosophy in the hope of encouraging another generation of gardeners. The secret to her success? A wholehearted commitment to the love of plants and their requirements and of course a lot of hard work.

Gael McConachy