Turning

During a local walk on 12 March I took photos of anything autumn-y that got my attention. Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand.

Catching The Light

Flowers catching the light. Alexandra public garden, 29 January. Central Otago, New Zealand.

Bolder Than Blue

In summer, red hot pokers quickly send up tall sturdy flower heads that demand all attention for themselves. They're completely unfazed by the big blue sky above, doggedly growing taller so they can 'own the blue' and boldly take advantage. Viewed against a cloudless, summer-blue sky their brilliance is brightest. West Otago, New Zealand. 29...

Stop for a Red

These fabulous red hot pokers required I ask Nigel to turn around and go back.. Kniphofia come in a range of colours but these are the true sizzling red-hot flower heads that look like they'd burn you! They were growing in front of a farm paddock near the gate, and right by the sealed highway....

Blanket Flowers

Such bright, cheerful flowers! Gaillardia or blanket flowers. I took these photos when we visited the public garden at Alexandra on 29 January. The bumblebees love them too. Central Otago, New Zealand.

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...

Flower Power

Yesterday we travelled into Central Otago to get some fresh fruit from the orchards but it was such a nice day we continued to Alexandra and had a look at the summer flowers in the town's public garden. We were enchanted! New Zealand

Red Livens Things Up

I want to share with you how lovely the red form of our native mistletoe looks when it's up in a tree, with this type of mistletoe that's where you look.. upward. It's their spent flowers on the ground that usually alert me to their presence higher in the trees, always reminding me to look...

Christmas Mistletoe

I've still got a few photos of the native mistletoe that are perched on trees at our local public reserve at Black Gully. Happily they flower in December and a few of them reside at the edge of the big open grass area so no big hike is needed to access them. I took these...

Christmas Eve

Some photos I've taken this week, selected because I associate them with Christmas in some way. First two taken this morning at Gore Gardens.. white bell flowers and tiny pink blurs of Heuchera flowers. Then Cotinus or smokebush partly catching the light. And then (taken 22 Dec) native mistletoe, and astelia berries, Black Gully near...

So Pretty

Purple roses from Alexandra public gardens, Central Otago. 07 December. New Zealand.

31 Years

Wedding anniversary today! So we did a long drive into Central Otago ~ but I took this photo 24 November. Deep red rosebud ready to open, red mature rose blurred behind the bud, scattered soft-focus white roses in background (they're tinged palest pink in the centre). Alexandra public gardens, Central Otago, New Zealand.