All on a Sunday

When we visited Alexandra public garden on Sunday, I found the smoke tree foliage beautiful as I gazed at the leaves against the summer blue sky. Alexandra is in Central Otago, New Zealand. Today I was delighted to find a wonderful hoar frost photo taken in Germany, also photographed on Sunday! A battered old sunflower...

Winding Creek Road

When we drove from Tapanui to Waikaia on Saturday it was cold outside. We found these lovely icicles by the roadside, spotted them from the car. Like a special little grotto! Nigel took these photos, 13 June 2020. These photos were all taken at this place. If you'd like to see the road a map ...

The Rocking Horse

Alternative title:  The Baby in Red. Haiku poem about me as a 4 yr-old with my long black hair (I could sit on it when I was 4), wearing my beautiful rose-red dress (my 'good' dress), and having a ride on my rocking horse. The first stirrings of independence! The poem was inspired by this...

Rural Ettrick In Winter

We saw this long pivot irrigator parked in a paddock just outside Ettrick on our way back from Central Otago to Gore on 02 June 2018 (winter in New Zealand). We'd decided to drive a little way up a side road on a whim and this was right near the fence. They're pretty impressive when...

Winter Willow

On that freezing cold Saturday, 02 June, when we were on our way home through Central Otago, we passed these frozen willows. This was after we'd left Fruitlands and we were somewhere between Gorge Creek and Shingle Creek. Central Otago, New Zealand. The trees were right by the highway. - Photo by Nigel Some of...

Pretty Damn Cold!

Alexandra remained foggy and cold on Sat 02 June. We stopped to take photos at Butchers Dam where the scenery was splendid but we didn't want to hang around for too long as it was very cold. We were parked by Lye Bow Road, a gravel road which is just off the main highway. The...

Fire and Ice

Rose hips and hoar frost photographed on the second day of winter. We drove to Alexandra and in the afternoon on the way back to Gore we stopped in several places to take photos. These are taken at Butchers Dam near Alexandra. We literally parked on the roadside, scrambled up a bank, and found a...

Speargrass Inn: Garden

Photos from the garden that surrounds Speargrass Inn at Fruitlands, Central Otago. We arrived at the Inn but they were Out (closed for the winter). This post continues Fruitless Fruitlands which included a rustic wagon. The beautiful pine tree below is near the wagon - you can partially see it in some photos. The pine...

Fruitless Fruitlands

Speargrass Inn is a beautifully restored historic hotel now operating as a cafe with separate B&B accommodation. We'd hoped to enjoy the cafe on our way back home on Saturday. The district where Speargrass Inn is located is called Fruitlands and we found the cafe had closed for the winter hence my title 'Fruitless Fruitlands'....

Narnia found! At Lye Bow Road, Butchers Gully, Alexandra. Taken by Liz Sat 02 June 2018 in the early afternoon. Second day of winter here in New Zealand.

Christmas Snow

Christmas in New Zealand is in summer so I've been really enjoying photos posted by those of you overseas who have had early, or even rare, snowfalls. So I've put together a Christmas Snow post to celebrate and share your lovely snow photos that I've enjoyed so much. All photos used with permission. My leading...

Frosty Sunrise this morning in Dunedin, New Zealand

Mid-winter down our end of the globe. Got up about 8am, looked out the kitchen window and saw bright pink clouds. Grabbed my cell and rushed outside (in pjs and gumboots to SO's amusement). Managed to get these shots although the colour was fading even while I was out there and had disappeared once I...