Radiant Gradient

Poplar hedge in afternoon sunshine. Ettrick, Central Otago. This afternoon. New Zealand.

Sunny Flowers

Oil crop of yellow sunflowers on the outskirts of Clinton, 04 February. South Otago, New Zealand.

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.

Bright Sparks

Bright blooms I couldn't miss, I took these photos at Alexandra public garden on 29 January. It was a very sunny, summer day and a beautiful day to be there but challenging for taking photos! Loved all the bright colours and the variety of plants in all shapes and sizes. Plenty of bumblebee buzz. Central...

Pink Paws

By the time I reached the Australia garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden yesterday the light was already high-key but nevertheless these kangaroo paws still look bright and colourful in the photo, as indeed they were. One of my favourite flowering plants! Dunedin, New Zealand.

Way Out West

'Tis true! These photos were taken west of where we live *and* (Nigel's just reminded me), we live in West Otago! So.. I spotted this old wagon when we did the long country drive on back roads through farmland, technically in Southland as the regional boundary is close to where we live. We were nearing...

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...

Yellow Crop Field

Yellow crop field we suddenly came across during a back country drive this afternoon. Clutha district, Otago. New Zealand.

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...

Birthday Fun

Birthday fun yesterday.. a trek through thyme-strewn Bannockburn sluicings to Stewart Town where the old stone house also boasts an old orchard +lilac bush! The first pic also has California poppies. And earlier, I'd enjoyed a whirl on this twirly thing in a Cromwell playground. Central Otago, New Zealand.

Birthday Time

Birthday time.. mine! I found this giant sundial this morning in Cromwell, Central Otago. Nigel 6'3" is with the dial in the 2nd photo. Hardly any roses are out yet and yet I found a "Celebration" rose! Plus the mountain clock way above Alexandra - which I photographed on our way here on Saturday. “So...

High Hopping Rates

These freshwater photos are from the historic daffodil property at Weatherstons near Lawrence, the site of the Black Horse Brewery that was in operation from 1866 until 1923 under various owners. Apparently the beer produced was of excellent quality and the water was an important factor - there's a photo with info about the water...