The original gardens at Arles employed four full-time gardeners but, over time, the property was reduced to one hectare and now employs two part-time gardeners plus whatever time is left out of Sue and Tom's busy schedule.

Our interests include not only gardens and old houses but old cars. We own a 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton and a 1957 MGA. We also both enjoy travel. Tom originally hails from British Columbia.

The gardens contain many long-established trees including the southernmost Queensland kauri in New Zealand, the 'trampled' oak, two huge Norfolk Island pines and a lovely lilly-pilly trees. There are also maples, magnolias, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, palms, a stand of bamboo and a range of NZ native trees including rimu, karaka, kowhai, rata, puka, titoki, puriri and tree ferns.

Fruit trees include lemon, orange, grapefruit, apple, peach, feijoa and fig. Several very old plum trees scattered throughout the property are retained for the delight of the native wood pigeons and other feathered friends.