Jane’s childhood home, Gladbrook Station, 25km away over the Rock and Pillar Range, had a garden designed by eminent early 20th century landscaper Alfred Buxton, whose love of trees has obviously influenced her. Trees are vital not only for their beauty, she says, but also for shelter – “We spent the first 20 to 25 years getting shelter.”
Despite growing up such a short distance away, Jane had to cope with hotter (as high as 40degC), drier summers, higher altitude (1500m above sea level) and significantly lower rainfall. It didn’t deter the indefatigable Jane. Charles was to move the fences six times as the garden grew and claimed his fences were to keep Jane in, not his deer out. She retained old poplars in former paddocks for their height and autumn gold, adding other deciduous trees that colour well before their leaves fall. Charles created the ha-ha and bulldozed out the two ponds that are features of Clachanburn. “He did really good stuff,” Jane says.
The varied pond-side plantings demand a closer look, while the boatshed is filled with little treasures, including the 1933 fishing licence that belonged to Jane’s grandfather.
Newer projects include a rock-walled nuttery with olives and hazelnuts, the produce destined for her ever-busy kitchen.
Every imaginable Cistus (rock rose) performs well at Clachanburn but true roses need to be ultra-tough to survive the Maniototo’s harsh winters. Jane has had success with the Scots or burnet roses (Rosa pimpinellifolia) as well as Dublin Bay (“the best red rose for Central Otago”), Golden Wings and tough cherry-red single climber Nancy Hayward.
However, her favourite is undoubtedly Lucy’s Rose, named for her granddaughter, a young cancer survivor. In a project initiated by Jane, money raised from sales of the rose supporting Ranui House, which provides accommodation in Christchurch for the families of those undergoing cancer treatment.
And it wouldn’t be a Central Otago garden without hollyhocks, planted outside Clachanburn’s historic cottage, where visitors can stay.