Tuesday, December 29, 2015

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

Monday, December 28, 2015

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


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

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 


Monday, December 21, 2015

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
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

Saturday, October 10, 2015

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 


Saturday, September 19, 2015

TODAY'S FLOWERS & I Heart Macro - Spring has sprung


Often last winter I did not expect to see another spring
yet here it is, in all it's glory

even without the ability to care for my garden,
it gives me joy after joy


anemones have been more glorious than ever
all winter long I had things flowering
to feed any bee brave enough
to venture out


I had so much blossom from white to deep pink
that I could shake the trees over visiting children
hand have them dancing around in veritable 
snowfalls of petals


tulips have gone crazy and multiplied like rabbits


even Kookie was astonished
at this fringed variety


only my daffodils turned their backs on me
but glowed like stars in a midnight sky
to light up an overgrown patch of garden.


Please forgive me for only sporadic visiting.
I find it hard to sit at the computer
and enjoy so very much when YOU pop by.

Linking with 



Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Skywatch - Sunrise and moonset


Spring is here, as well as a few clouds


sunrise on one side of my garden 
and simultaneous moonset on the other

a great time to be outdoors


Enjoy your spring or autumn,
whatever season you have
you'll never see the same again,
every day has it's very own wonders.

Linking with SkyWatch

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday - Drive-by shooting . .


Some time ago when travelling in the Australian inland,
in the middle of no-where
it was a good year for Emu


families of eight or nine kept popping up on either side

unfortunately, when going at 110km, 
the conditions for bird photography are less than ideal


Joining Stewaet's


Saturday, July 11, 2015

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Winter cheer


Even in the midst of anAntarctic blast
chilling us to the bone


Mother Nature gives us the joy
of the Flinders Ranges Wattle, Acacia iteaphylla,
to brighten our day.

Linking with 
TODAY'S FLOWERS

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

SkyWatch - A Solstice rainbow


Back from the desert to the cold, cold, cold of the farm

the nights were cold in the desert too, but it was a dry cold
with incredibly clear skies
where the milky way was visible
from horizon to horizon


the pot of gold, or opals
at the other end


a heartwarming Solstice fire as the temperature
started dropping
and a rum toddy may have been
more fitting than our, none the less enjoyable G&T


while the sun slipped gently down into the red soil


Pure enjoyment, what a life!

linking with 


Thursday, June 18, 2015

SkyWatch - Back for a brief post


Autumn came and went, we had a little rain


My granddaughter cut and stacked wood for me


 the lovely apples from my seedling tree were harvested


reflections of opposing windows 
turned my bedroom into a jungle


the cows broke through the fence into the paddock
behind my garden


a last carpet of gold on the way to my plastic surgeon


sorry, no face lift, just a cyst removed from my eyelid
and a doughnut plastered on my face


my globe artichokes have been a dream and are still producing
in the darkest part of the year


and plentiful fruits of the forest . . . yum


my garden keeps me in potatoes, spinach, chard, silver beet,
globe artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes with beetroot, radishes 
and broad beans thriving

even with some very painful and expensive root canal treatments
as well as the death of my 24 year old, much beloved car,
LIFE IS GOOD

Off to the desert again tomorrow.
Who knows, I may put up another post on my return.

Stay happy and enjoy the life you have.

Linking with SkyWatch


Monday, May 4, 2015

OUR WORLD & Nature Notes - The colours of autumn


Stirling main street transformed from a barren sealed road
wide enough to land a Jumbo jet on
into this magnificent sight that now attracts tourists to it's 
autumn festival.

Forty four years ago a band of conservationist fought 
tooth and nail to preserve the last remaining oaks in the main 
street, against a Council that wanted to create more parking 
places in front of the shops.

Somehow, with getting the media on side,
we got our way and the council consented to us planting
an avenue of Liquid Ambers along the main shopping strip.
My daughter still proudly points to the tree she 
planted as a 10 year old.


This is one of the highest rainfall areas in the state,
where the trees do not lose their leaves until they have
displayed their full glory.


Finally the Council saw sense, built car parks
behind the shops and added beautiful plantings along the road.
Now it is a pleasure to shop and walk there and there is still 
some discreet parking along the roadway.


A perfect place for an autumn ramble and to pop into 
Matilda's Book Shop to pick up a book or three . . .

Linking with

  OUR WORLD & Nature Notes

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