SkyWatch - Clouds over New Zealand

Still from the Land of the Long White Cloud

beautiful clouds and beaches everywhere.

Wishing I could of back again right away . . .

hope is a great thing

Linking with SkyWatch

OUR WORLD - Hitting New Zealand's West Coast

After feasting our senses on these and more beauties

we head south and west to the South Pacific Ocean

a great spot to stretch our legs and enjoy the colours

of the open ocean

a magnificent beach and so very crowded

not just one or two pieces of driftwood to use as foreground!

Having filled our lungs with the sweet, pure air,

time to move onward.

Linking with OUR WORLD

Wild Bird Wednesday - Coastal birds, New Zealand

Staying on the water's edge at Akaroa, on the South Island

of New Zealand,

we had some visitors to help clean up our scrambled eggs

don't know which gull this is, I just know it is different 

to our silver gulls in Australia

sadly, the next morning we had to leave but at least the 

coastal scenery was beautiful

and all those specks at the water's edge are, surprisingly,

Canada Geese!

Introduced to the country in 1905 as game birds.

Sorry my iPhone could not do them justice.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

OUR WORLD and Nature Notes - Some little wonders in New Zealand

We arrived late and by the time we were out of the airport,

it was close to midnight.

Happily, Darling Daughter had booked us the most 

comfortable king-sized beds at the nearest hotel

After a blissful night, this bumble bee was busy at the

entrance as we waited for transport back to the airport

to pick up our car.

After a few hours of slow driving through flat, rather boring

country, we came upon this marvellous Japanese restaurant

at Ashburton. A find indeed, with authentic beyond delicious 

Japanese food. We were a bit late for lunch but they 

very kindly kept the Restaurant open for us 

so we could fully enjoy our meal.

it was so delicious I did not even think of taking a photo

until we were halfway through our meal.

I stil salivate just thinking about it.

DD, who organised the whole trip, is a seasoned traveller

and knows when to stop an stretch one's legs to ward 

off fatigue

we stopped by a railway line, under some beautiful oaks

and although it was not such a great spot for stretching one's

legs, there was much to discover and appreciate in the grass

tiny lawn daisies

red clover

a sea of baby oaks

some roadside weeds glowing like miniature suns

and this interesting flower which neither of us was 

acquainted with and much much more
(this plant has now been identified by Sweetpea
in my comments. Thank you Christ.))

a short stop, but so refreshing for the soul.

Linking with OUR WORLD

and Nature Notes

Wild Bird Wednesday - Chaffinch in NZ

Birding with only an older iPhone is not ideal

but even so, I was happy to nab this cute little chap.

The Chaffinch is an introduced bird in New Zealand 

but, unlike the house sparrow, is such a nice songster 

A few other birds from my trip may follow.

Linking with 

Wild Bird Wednesday

OUR WORLD - Paeonies in New Zealand

Hallo my friends, it has been a long time between 

drinks but it seems that I am finally back

Been home bound for health reasons but can travel again

and have just ( by grace and favour of

my Darling Daughter)

spent a week in New Zealand

ticking, for now anyway, fields of

PAEONIES

off my bucket list.

It was the last opportunity before the end of the season

and the growers were apologetic about the fading blooms

but for me, it was like heaven on a stick

 sheer magic!!!

whether mottled pink

rising like a double waterlily

in bud or fading

just mind-blowing beauty

and looking beyond, quietly grazing sheep . . .

I took almost 500 pictures, so be warned

there will be more.

Linking with OUR WORLD

TODAY'S FLOWERS -- another odd year

Spring had barely come

with all it's blossomy glory

outside my garden fence

my favourite ornamental blossom tree, Malus floribunda.

At duk, I stand engulfed by it's scent and blossoms

   

wisteria coming into bloom,

 again the heady scent was almost too much at times

all this delicate wonder was destroyed by two hot, hot days

as summer struck us in the face in mid spring,

complete with a bushfire close by

as a consolation prize,

this splendid, huge bloom opened among the faded 

splendour of the wisteria.

No complaints, the consolation prize was a real beauty!

Linking with 

TODAY'S FLOWERS