It took a special vision for Lorna and Chris Yandle to see beyond thigh-high grass, a few goat-chewed trees and a swampy hollow to image how a 4ha Pahoia property could become a beautiful garden.

But vision they had and 17 years, and a great deal of hard work on, the property is a stunning garden set around a lovely home on the edge of the Tauranga Harbour.

A large pond, created from a former swamp, is a focal point of Chris and Lorna Yandle's garden which is part of the Katikati Rotary Club's ‘Up the Garden Path' ramble in November. Photo: Supplied.

For the first time Lorna and Chris opened the garden they have lovingly created to the public this weekend as part of the Katikati Rotary Club's ‘Up the Garden Path' ramble. Today is the last day for the public to see it.

Chris credits Lorna for the garden design and she in turn credits Chris, and gardeners Andrew Townsend of Townsend Landscaping and Fritz van Rensburg with turning her vision into a reality.

'There was a small patch of native bush but hardly any other trees apart from a few stunted by the goats chewing them, and lots of grass and weeds,” says Lorna.

The swamp in front of the home the couple built was excavated to form a large pond, and Chris and Andrew constructed the waterfall and stream which meanders through a gully to flow into it.

Lorna has planned the garden in a series of ‘rooms' so as you stroll along its lawn or pathways, the plantings subtly change in a merging of colours, forms and species.

There's a woodland of Japanese Maples and nearby native trees and shrubs under-planted with exotics for colour, flourish in the gully with its pretty stone waterfall.

Clever groupings of plants for colour and texture create the grey garden, conifer room and rhododendron walk with its spring bulbs and violets.

The focal point of the garden is the large pond with an island in the middle, which is popular with visiting wild water fowl, including ducks and shags. The garden's colour and form changes with the season.

Lorna and Chris have decided to share their garden with the public through the Katikati Rotary Clubs ‘Up the Garden Path' ramble because all the proceeds go to help the Katikati community.

It is one of 13 stunning gardens open this weekend. Tickets cost $20 per person for two days and there is a discounts for coach parties.

For further information phone 07 549 1837. Tickets available from Katikati Information Centre or gardens on the day.