b"feature gardenMo Suttons courtyard garden is small but utilises vertical space with archways and tall hedging such as Italian Cypress. The 'Phyllis Bide' rose is a fantastic climber with prolific blooms, says Mo. The ceramic planter painted inReseneResene Spanish WhiteCoconut Creamand blooming with purple violets and pansies adds to theReseneclassical style. Spanish WhiteReseneLemon GrassM o and Graham Suttons Blenheim garden may be small. But what itReseneGlamour Pusslacks in area, it makes up for in colour, thanks to Resene testpots and paints, natures flamboyance and Mos maximalist vision.Mo and her husband Graham bought their 496-square-metre corner section in 2005. By the time theyd built the house, adding verandas and patios, there was little space left for gardens.So, they created somevisually, that is. Mo is a garden designer and has a company called Garden Planit, so she knows how to make a small garden speak up. Her language is colour: pink and gold as the stars, with supporting acts in reds, oranges and whites, mostly in roses. Her favourite roses include the apricot-orange 'Westerland' climbing rose, the pink-flecked cream of 'Claude Monet' and the white-with-yellow-centre'MargaretMerril'.Sheaddsbluesandmauveswith the 'Rhapsody in Blue' rose, and, in summer, extra colour comes from sweet peas and dahlias. Ive always had hedges, Mo says. We are on a corner, so I wanted them for privacy, but we didnt have the space. Instead, they built a concrete block wall, painted it in Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Lemon Grass and planted ficus pumila, or creeping fig, to grow over it. Ficus is a creeper, so from inside our property and from the roadside, it gives the effect of a hedge, which started everything growing upwards. I knew that we had to garden vertically rather than try to garden horizontally.Clematis and roses climb skywards over the ficus. As the viewer admires the flowers, their eyes are already looking up and beyond. While waiting for the holding clematis to grow, Mo used artificial ivy and fake hostas as temporary fillers. localAbove top: Mo painted the fence Resene Lemon Marlborough is good for roses; they like its clay soil. Graham and Mo ensure the plants have good drainage and are watered and fed regularly. Its importantGrass and the grey green is a great colour contrast to to keep the roses bug-free, Graham says, because disease and bugs such asthe vibrant green climbing ficus, which took seven aphids suck out all the nutrients from the plant. years to establish. Planted on the berm side is hot The courtyard-style garden takes inspiration from the Mediterranean, with threepink and orange China rose 'Mutabilis' flanked by the apricot and yellow tones of the rose 'Margaret seating areas to follow the sun. The patio has a style of table seen in manyMerril'. The home's exterior colour is a custom colour homes: a round timber top on a pedestal supported by three curvy feet. Mo hascreated by the Blenheim Resene ColorShop, for a refreshed hers in hot pink, using Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamelsimilar colour try Resene Double Sisal.court tinted to Resene Glamour Puss. Pinks one of my favourite colours, so when I sawAbove: There are multiple seatingand lounging that hot pink, I thought, Well, this is it. Mo credits interior designer Simone Hill at areas around the garden. It's designed so there's Cinnamon House in Blenheim for introducing her to the Resene colour range.always a sunny spot ready for relaxationwhen She painted a couple of ageing wicker chairs to match. Oops. It didnt workMo's not busy gardening that is. Mo created a because it was just an old cane base underneath, and it didnt do anything for thetouch of glam with Resene Coconut Cream painted on the walls, Resene Morepork on the side table This courtyard garden is filled to the brimpink, so we changed it to soft lilac greyResene Lustacryl semi-gloss tinted toand Resene Gold Dust metallic paint on the planter, Resene Morepork. The paint is helping to hold them together.with colour thanks to its owners magicFloral fabric Mo bought years ago and a dappled-green ceramic vase set offwhich houses a life-like artificial palm.ReseneReseneResene touch with roses and a paintbrush. the look. I like putting mad colours together, she says. Morepork Gold Dust Double Sisal72 73"