Colour

 

Nice to see some colour in the local gardening department of the Mitre 10 store - there seems to be lots of cyclamen around at the moment.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays. 

Roses

 

Back in Autumn when my neighbour first bought his property next door to us he was cleaning up his backyard and gave me his rose plants that he didn't want. This photo and below are now the results of that gift - as you can see they are both blooming but I'm not sure of the name of them.

I like to leave spring onions in my vege garden to attract the bees and they have been buzzing around these ones.

Calendula flowers I leave in too as I plant herbs in between the vegetables for companion planting, I don't use sprays or pesticides. Spring is here.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures, Happy Tuesdays and Wordless Wednesday.

60

 

One of the few things flowering in my backyard are the Camellia trees I planted last Spring. I have about 6 of them inside the fence line.

We went out to dinner for B's 60th birthday at one of the local restaurants. I ordered a Haloumi and Mushroom meal which was very tasty.

And we had 2 loads of firewood delivered which means we are fixed for the rest of Winter.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Flowers...

I don't seem to see many garden beds or flowers around Greymouth. When we lived in Tauranga I hated it with literally a passion but one thing we saw lots of was pretty flowers planted along the edges of roads and intersections. This one had a mixture of what looks like Alyssum and Impatiens - so colourful. 

 

So far here in my backyard we've planted a mandarin tree, a lemon tree and a cherry tree - outside the front of the house I planted 3 red roses which are already blooming.  I think my town needs more colour, especially in Summer. So far here it's been very hot with low humidity so our nights have been very warm and very dry. It's hard to sleep with even a sheet but getting the washing dry outside is easy.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs. 

California dreaming

So lately on my days off I've been pushing myself to get out walking again. While we were in lockdown it got too easy to stay home and vegetate so last week I spotted these California Poppies outside a property near the footpath. I'd say someone probably sprinkled a load of wildflower seeds over Autumn so they are sprouting now and don't they make a nice range of colour?

This one is a Purple Vine creeper that has been climbing over my neighbour's wall - the flowers are so vibrant.

And this one is a path that I follow on one of my nature walks around town.

Christmas day Bougainvillea

Christmas day came and went here in NZ. Christmas eve luckily I didn't have to work and my parents had come up to spend 2 days with us unfortunately we had constant rain - our country got quite a downpour but Christmas day morning the sun came out and shone down on us again.

Some of the goodies we feasted on were typical Kiwi traditions such as Pavlova, Fruit Sponge plus I had mad a Chocolate log with cream and jam in the middle. We also had a pork roast with various vegetables - the other half had barbequed some scallops wrapped on bacon. My mum (in the photo above) cutting the deserts into slices.

Later on after they had left I ventured out for a walk and saw this carpet of purple and red Bougainvillea lining the walkway near our house. How did your day go?

Daffodils at Waimate North

You haven't seen much of me this week. I've been in Supervisor training at work so by the time I get home at night I'm pretty much ready for bed. We have been however exploring local places over the last couple of weeks on my day off and have been taking lots of photos of the scenery.

Last weekend was a bit chilly with a bit of a cold Winter breeze in the air but I think Spring is on the way as I did see these yellow Daffodils and white Jonquils at Waimate North in the countryside about 10 minutes out of town.

Blossoms and boats at the Landing

Another place we explored since we moved here less than 2 weeks ago is this place. Named "The Landing" this area has a boat ramp and wharf. A waterfall is at the top near the road and cherry blossoms line the river bank.

There were probably 3 small trees with pink blossoms along with bees buzzing around and enjoying the winter sun.

There a small amount of dinghys and small boats parked near the wharf. We are actually looking online at the moment at buying one for ourselves as we are both fishing nuts.

This is the wharf and boat ramp. It was quite a still calm winter's day. This area seems to be filled with alot of mangroves and I would call it an estuary more than anything. No doubt it's a great place for Snapper and Flounder to congregate.

Colour within the concrete

Recently we visited Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland. This is somewhere I've been meaning to visit for a number of years simply because it's where some of my ancestors are buried and because I needed to connect something with all the research I've been doing over the years on my family tree (which is extremely extensive so far).

On my dad's side, the Austens we searched for in the Anglican section and couldn't find then later found out the original markers which were very modest wooden crosses had disappeared over the years but I had been very near the spot while walking around.

On my mum's side the de Silva's and Andersons are on the opposite area from here in the Non Comformist section - I did end up finding them as one of my uncles had organized a nice large slate marker with names and dates etc on top which was nice to see. It was a fairly emotional morning really...as it would be but it was lovely to see some pink Valerian flowers creating some colour in amongst the concrete.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Mount Maunganui public library

Another sunny late Summer's day here, this morning on my run past our local library it was good to many of the Sunflowers and Rudbeckia still flowering - these had been planted about a month ago.

Hopefully for those in the northern hemisphere you have a bit of thawing out going on. Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Time for some Summer colour

It seems NZ is going through some sort of heatwave at the moment. Last Summer was hot but not nearly this hot and parts of the country are experiencing record temperatures of 35 degrees celsius and even higher sometimes. Since many of you in the Northern hemisphere are in the middle of winter I thought I'd share some Summer colour from my recent visit to Te Puna Quarry Gardens. Rhododendron - as above.

Lovely purple Hydrangea - depending on how much you alter the ph level of the soil you can change the colour of the flowers.

Another lovely cream coloured Rhododendron sticking to the shade.

And in the herb and butterfly gardens some Dahlia and Rudbeckia plus some Buddleia line the pathways. 

Because we live in an apartment I only have a small deck area with some plant pots growing miniature geraniums (perfect for coastal conditions) and some succulents I recently planted from cuttings I got from other peoples gardens which they kindly gave me.

Last week however we've had several events happening here...a music concert, surf life saving championships and cricket games so work has been pretty manic and instead of me having my normal 2 days off I worked 7 days - I'm looking forward to my 3 day weekend next week.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

New Zealand's Christmas Tree

Every year between November and December these flowers start to bloom. Named the Pohutukawa Tree, they line most coastal roads and beaches, loving the sunshine and sandy conditions. They are aptly named New Zealand's Christmas tree and the vibrant red flowers are reminiscent of the time of the season. The myth is that if they flower before Christmas day then we are in for a good Summer - so far that seems to have come true.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Roses are loving the Summer heat

This week we've had record temperatures reaching up to the mid 20s to early 30s (celsius). The weather is scorching, good old me has to use sunblock of factor 40+ in order to be protected and that's when applied every 2 hours - I blame the English skin I have.

Anyway it looks like the roses at Robbins Park Rose Gardens are loving the sun. Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Looking out on Spring

As the sand dunes make way for the beach there are plenty of grasses, daisies and wildflowers growing in clumps. Yesterday while enjoying the sunshine I sat on the sand and looked out at the view - hardly any clouds, blue skies and plenty of colour. Looks like Spring to me!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Lake Karapiro Kowhai and Carvings

When you're on a road trip it's nice to pull off the main highway and explore some unfamiliar surroundings. Normally people go camping from Summer through to Autumn, however we spotted these campers who set up their tent and caravan on Lake Karapiro in early September (Spring in NZ).

Although it was a dismal overcast rain on/off again day it was nice to see some colour such as these Maori carvings and a Kowhai tree behind it flowering.

These trees that bloom in bright yellow flowers are native to New Zealand and feed native birds such as Tui, Kaka and Pigeon and Bellbird.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Cherry blossoms on 17th Ave

On my day off yesterday I drove my car to our trusted mechanic so it could get it's usual yearly warranty check completed. After having at least 45 minutes to spare I decided to walk from 11th Ave up to 17th Ave.

Very good exercise too! I was originally going to try and walk further up to Greerton as the cherry blossoms are flowering out there at the moment but knew it would probably take longer to get there on foot.

On the way I spied some trees in bloom along 17th Ave and took some photos of them in their pink finery. And down the opposite end of the street was Tauranga's historic village.  Quite alot of walking was done in all but by the time I got back and chatted with the mechanic I was dismayed to learn that the front shock absorbers in my car need replacing at a hefty cost. Thankfully I have a very handy other half who can replace when for me so that I can take the car back for it's warranty to pass :-)

Spring at McLaren Falls Park

The other half has recently purchased a drone and on Sunday we drove around McLaren Falls Park trying to find somewhere he could test it's flying abilities.

We stopped at 2 spots but the areas were a bit exposed to the wind and the poor old drone was knocked to the ground where we found one of the propellers had come loose.

Along the way I got out of the car and went for a walk into one of the parks there, crossed a bridge over a small stream and found this area full of blooming Daffodils. Lovely to finally see evidence of Spring :-)

Daisies everywhere!

After being sick on and off for the last couple of weeks I finally got out yesterday and enjoyed a long beach walk. Lots of sun and warmth and when I sat on the sand above the beach in amongst the grasses I was surrounded by these lovely orange Gazanias and Freesias. Just lovely!

Spring at Te Puna Quarry Park

This morning in an effort to getting rid of that cabin fever feeling we drove out to Te Puna Quarry Park, somewhere I haven't visited in over a year.  Near the entrance this part was chained off but naughty me sneaked in and got this quick shot of one of the pink Magnolia trees starting to bloom.

 

In the Rhododendron garden these pinks and reds caught my eye, looks like the insects were enjoying the flowers too.

Near the end of the path was this garden floor covered in a sea of red and white flowers due to the Magnolia and Rhododendron trees towering above.

This white Magnolia was only just starting to bloom so there were more buds than flowers - we think the rain from the previous night has washed many off their branches.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Pink Hibiscus after the rain...

This morning after pushing myself to get out for my morning walk with the frosty air nipping at my nose I took this photo of a bright pink Hibiscus flower after the rain overnight. Lucky I had warm clothes on and a scarf around my neck but I really must get myself a pair of woolen gloves.

Linking up with Wednesday around the world :-)