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