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 

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 

TODAY'S FLOWERS

and I Heart Macro

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

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

Wild Bird Wednesday

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

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 

SkyWatch

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

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