The Skylark Rose

Lark Ascending. This post celebrates ongoing achievements by writer Kay McKenzie Cooke who lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. This year Kay will see her 4th book of poetry published. Not only that, she's been working on a novel for the past decade and has now reached the stage where she's scouting around for a 'home'....

Lil Library in Tapanui

Lilliput Library to be exact. Yesterday I needed to walk from home, right through the town of Tapanui, and then go further up the street and round the bend to get to the house that was my destination. And on the way I knew I'd pass the new Lilliput Library that I've spotted recently when...

Damsel in Gore

Another damselfly flew in to have his/her photo taken when we popped into Gore Gardens on our way home in the afternoon. Nigel had his cellphone handy and took these photos. Gore, Southland, New Zealand. Photos taken 24 Feb 2020. Our first damselfly encounter had been in Invercargill earlier in the day. Mike Powell, any...

Damsel in the Park

It's extremely rare that I'm privileged to post an insect photo but yesterday in Queens Park, Invercargill we were treated to an appearance from a damselfly! I had my (very basic) cellphone in hand and couldn't believe it when my shot came out focussed. Queens Park, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. Click on either photo to...

Consider The Lily

Returning home from down south yesterday we stopped in at Gore for a while and were drawn in to Gore Gardens to see how they're doing (lovely). I didn't even have my cellphone in hand but Nigel had his cell and got a few photos. This is a fine lily that I went over to...

Golfers and Greenkeepers

Yesterday I featured ovine greenkeepers in three photos I posted. Do golfers share the fairways with the maintenance crew? Yes they do. Many cars were parked at the club and golfers were playing. Here's three shots with golfers visible in the first two. Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand. Photos taken 22 Feb 2020. Click on...

Greenkeepers

Leaving Tapanui this afternoon I noticed the local golf course on the edge of town was being maintained by willing greenkeepers. This is no surprise to me as it's quite normal in rural New Zealand but I'm not sure if overseas people are used to a golf course being maintained this way? On our return...

Cinnamon and Silver

Marlborough Rock Daisy, endemic to New Zealand. Pachystegia insignis RHS and another species LHS. Liz, Christmas Day 2019, Dunedin Botanic Garden.

Marlborough Rock Daisy

Very showy native New Zealand daisy from eastern Marlborough (top of the South Island) where it naturally grows in rugged coastal rocky terrain. It has beautiful shiny green leathery leaves that have a light-coloured tormentum underneath like felt. The flower buds are quite a feature and open into daisy flowers. "At present, 3 species are...

Webby Hedge

Leaving home to walk to our local cafe Top Nosh for a Valentine's Day brunch, Nigel was taken with all the dewy webs on the box hedge by our path - they were making a great show. Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand. First image cropped from the second Click on the following image to enlarge...

Tiger Moth

Yesterday we spent some time at Mandeville, a tiny settlement near Gore notable for having an airfield by the highway and a great little vintage aircraft museum, and a good cafe. This time they had their Tiger Moth airplane parked on the lawn near the cafe and we were able to get nicer photos than...

Fallen

Dead trees lying on the beach are sad shadows of their former selves but here's a new perspective I gained on radical transformation. Chris Mousseau shared photos of these fallen beauties he found when he went for a run on a perfect but cold winter's day (-20 degree day ... cough). On the shore of...