Magnolia in white, gold and russet

Lovely magnolia with white flowers, golden buds and russet undersides to the droopy leaves. I felt like I was experiencing spring and autumn all at once! And it was beautifully scented! From our visit to Dunedin Botanic Garden on Sunday 27 August 2017. New Zealand.           Text and photos by Exploring...

Little Cat and Big Cats

Cheshire Cat and Lions at Larnach Castle, Dunedin, New Zealand. I was delighted to renew my acquaintance with the Cheshire Cat. We've missed seeing it on numerous visits due to the failure to look UP !! Introducing the Cheshire Cat ...   Beautiful lichen-covered lion   Castle entrance. Lions in front, eagles behind Larnach Castle...

Can I have this Dance?

Twirling trees... this is the path that leads from the carpark at Larnach Castle to the Castle itself. We were there on Sunday afternoon and I was charmed by the tiered Cornus trees. To my fanciful mind they seemed to be twirling in spring delight. Whirling dervishes perhaps?! The carpet of snowdrops is still beautiful...

Darker Pink Magnolia Tree in Bloom

This is another magnolia tree that we admired when visiting the Dunedin Botanic Garden on Sat 26 Aug. The blossom is a much darker pink.than that pictured in my previous post and there are a lot of big fat furry buds that create an interesting spotty effect when looking up from below. The buds are...

Introducing SO (Landscape Architect)

Introducing "SO", my husband, who's taken a fair few of the photos I've posted. Nigel is the sort of LA who's really interested in gardens and plants. As far as his practice is concerned, he's working hard on building his client base in the agricultural sector, working with other agricultural researchers and farmer clients. He...

Magnolia Trees in Blossom

Today we visited Dunedin Botanic Garden and I said to SO, lets check out the Rhododendron Garden and as we rounded the corner we were met with this jaw-dropping sight of the magnolias in bloom! Feels like spring is here 🙂 Words and photos by Exploring Colour (2017)

A Tree Fern and an Eagle

Looking in a folder of photos, this tree fern and eagle hit me in the eye. They seemed to complement each other perfectly. To me they create this primeval vibe of Gondwanaland that I don't get seeing either subject on its own. Harks back to ancient times and sends a shiver down my spine... Tree...

Encounters with the New Zealand Pigeon

The New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is endemic to this country and very distinctive with its "white singlet" front. You'd think it would be easily seen but its actually difficult to spot when looking up into the branches of a tree. And they stay very quiet most of the time, although if disturbed they fly...

Lake Dunstan, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (June 2017)

I see… Black and Yellow

I've been quietly collecting black and yellow images for a few weeks and now, having got permissions sorted, it's my great pleasure to present to you: I see... Black and Yellow Thank you very much to contributing photographers! To see a photo in more detail, click on the link for the original post - it...

Such Stunning Snails…

Kauri snails. Ever heard of them? They're carnivorous, egg-laying snails endemic to New Zealand. So I'm guessing most of you haven't heard of them! And, they... are long-lived: they can live for twenty years or more! grow BIG. Shell diameter up to 79mm. are carnivorous - their diet consists of earthworms, insects, insect larvae, and...

Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’

After regularly visiting the Dunedin Botanic Garden (NZ) I think this has to be one of my very favourite plants and what a great name! I've only done the briefest of research but it appears to have originated at Heronswood, Hobart (Tasmania, Australia) in 1993 and is said to have "resulted from a chance cross...