Spring Garden

Spring garden in Wyndham, Southland, New Zealand. Colourful hawthorn. In the yard is a designer homewares shop A Little Bird Told Me. Liz, 11 Nov 2019.

Cherry Blossom, New Zealand

Cherry blossom walk. Maple Glen Garden, Glenham, Southland. Nigel Cowburn, 06 October 2019.

Swan Island

I call this Swan Island because we normally can't cross the bridge to this little island on account of the swans liking to nest there and we're so used to  them guarding it  that we usually don't venture near. On this day however we knew the swans were distant and their cygnets well-grown so we...

Shiny Hare

This shiny hare caught my eye, sitting in a park at Roxburgh which is a small town on the edge of Central Otago. We were on our way home after my birthday trip of 31 October 2019. I guess I've noticed it before but perhaps we didn't have time or conditions weren't good for photos.....

Where We Found The Blue Doors

Open park, formal garden 'rooms' and a lovely cafe are features at  The Orchard Garden  Cafe and Function Centre. We had a pot of tea and desserts there after leaving the art gallery in Alexandra on my birthday. October 31, 2019. This is the place where we found the very pleasing  blue doors  that provided...

The Blue Doors

Transition from open park area to the enclosed gardens at  The Orchard Garden Cafe and Function Centre  between Alexandra and Clyde, Central Otago, New Zealand. I've already shown a photo Nigel took of me through the Blue Doors, here's more context. We were there on my birthday 31 October 2019. All photos taken by Nigel...

Giant Geraniums

When we lived in The Catlins these plants were already on the property, by the driveway near the house. They were very showy when they flowered and over time they self-seeded further along the edge of the driveway and carpark. We'd get frosts and sometimes snow in winter, seemingly endless rain, and yet every summer...

Liking The Lichen

We were walking through Queens Park in Invercargill when I noticed this lichen was glowing brightly on the trunk of a pine tree. Loved the bright natural colour! Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. Photos taken 26 October 2019 (Spring). I didn't edit these apart from resizing them. First photo taken by Liz and the second by...

Black Tree Fern

This is my favourite of the various tree ferns we have in New Zealand. There's few to be seen down south but we know of a lovely example tucked away in Queens Park, Invercargill, Southland. We checked on it during our visit of 26 October. Black Tree Fern, Mamaku, Cyathea medullaris Our tallest tree fern,...

Gentle View

When the bishop showed horror at the friars' hard life, Francis said, "If we had any possessions we should need weapons and laws to defend them." -- from a  summary about the life of St Francis To me the gentle attitude shown by St Francis seemed a perfect fit with the gentle beauty of these...

Handsome Pheasant

One of the handsome golden pheasants made an appearance when we visited Maple Glen Garden on 06 October but not as close as previously. I still wanted to post the shots though. He was more interested in keeping close to a near female than being near us.  For a closer view, see  The Golden Boy....

Hymn of Life: Tulips

I've been keeping these photos to show you on a Sunday. For me right now it's Sunday afternoon in Spring yet for many of you it'll be Sunday morning in Autumn! We found this magnificent sculpture in a public park near Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. The wonderful thing is ... we didn't even know it...