Bees love the winter colour.
There are countless styles.
Hidden behind a hedge on a busy stretch of Matakana Road lies an exotic surprise for plant lovers – one of the biggest collections of proteaceae in New Zealand.
For the uninitiated, proteaceae are evergreen flowering shrubs and trees that hail mainly from Australia and South Africa, with varieties including protea, banksia, grevillea, waratah and leucadendron.
Tending the hundreds of plants, bushes and trees at The Protea Patch since January last year are Carol van Dyk, a pharmacist, and Dave Smitherham, a refrigeration engineer, who fancied a sea change from city life.
“We came from a half section in the centre of Auckland with no grass and just a few flowers,” Dave says. “We weren’t serious gardeners, that’s for sure. But we wanted to do something, get somewhere with a bit of room while we’re still fit and able, and fell in love with this spot.”
Once they had set their heart on The Protea Patch, Carol spent three months driving up from the city to learn all about the workings and philosophy of the two-hectare property from previous owners Tony and Wendy White.
As well up to 40 varieties of protea, 20 to 30 different leucodendron, up to 20 banksia and similar plant species, The Protea Patch is also home to The Sculptural Habitat, a riverside bush walk that features 16 natural artworks and sculptures.
“That side is a park and it’s all about peace, serenity and what you can do with nature easily, simply, cheaply and beautifully,” Carol says. “Everyone who comes always says it feels really tranquil in there. And then the nursery side is a business, but it’s still quite lovely.”
Carol sells cut flowers at the gate and potted specimens all over NZ, propagating most of the stock herself, and buying in the odd cultivar. The range of different proteaceae is remarkable, ranging from tiny ground cover plants with minuscule flowers up to full-size protea and banksia trees with blooms as big as broccoli heads. There are even two native NZ varieties, rewarewa and toronia toru. They are all winter flowering, and bees and birds love them.
Carol says the best thing about the range is that virtually anyone can grow them.
“They’re very easy to look after,” she says. “Just don’t do anything for your protea – don’t feed it, don’t let it have wet feet, don’t weed round it. Some are not frost tolerant, some are not drought tolerant, but most of them will grow in most places.”
The Protea Patch & The Sculptural Habitat is open most weekends – Carol and Dave both still work in Auckland during the week at present – or by appointment.
Info: 425 8277 or proteapatch.co.nz
