New Zealand
This lovely manuka or teatree was flowering in the native area at Dunedin Botanic Garden on Christmas Day 2019. I took these about 3.30pm. Dunedin, New Zealand. This particular manuka is Leptospermum scoparium 'Wiri Amy'. The 'Wiri' signifies that this plant originated from the Leptospermum breeding programme at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, Manurewa. Click... Continue Reading →
There weren't many road signs to confirm our route to Leithen and it had us guessing at times as we drove up the gravel lane through forest trees, the sealed road having ended when farmland had transitioned to woodland. Eventually we came to the lovely Leithen picnic area that I've been posting photos of recently.... Continue Reading →
The Pomahaka River at Leithen Picnic Area has plenty of stones in the riverbed, many of them flat. Nigel commented that many of them are square-ended and would be useful for corners in stonemasonry (known as quoins). We were there on Sunday afternoon. All photos below taken by Nigel, 19 Jan 2020. Pomahaka River at... Continue Reading →
We did a little bit of local exploring yesterday afternoon. I remembered seeing a sign to a picnic area near Heriot so we drove there and found a turn-off (to 'Leithen Picnic Area'). Initially it was a sealed road through farmland, then became a gravel road through forest and suddenly we arrived at a lovely... Continue Reading →
Iona Church in Port Chalmers has been on this site in some form since 1871 (Presbyterian), NZ cabbage tree in front. Dunedin, New Zealand.
These are photos I took in the Mediterranean Garden at Dunedin Botanic Gardens on the evening of 24 November 2019. The vertical was over-exposed and with my basic editing skills I couldn't retrieve the colour. I knew other bloggers have had success playing with effects on 'bin' photos so I had a go and it... Continue Reading →
This post features images taken by Nigel when we visited Horseshoe Bend near Millers Flat in Central Otago, New Zealand. He got some really nice captures. There was so much more than just the historic bridge. Taken 31 Dec 2019. Native flowers. I think this may be manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) rather than kanuka (Kunzea ericoides).... Continue Reading →
Earlier today we were in Dunedin and visited St Clair. As soon as we'd parked I spotted a yellow pohutukawa on a nearby private property. This is a rare colour form, the normal colour being bright red (known as the New Zealand Christmas tree). Down south here the pohutukawa trees are just coming into flower... Continue Reading →
A few photos I took when we called into Kink in the Road pub 08 Dec 2019 for a meal, because I enjoyed their Chrismas decorations. Just happy and cheerful! Happy Christmas to you all, I'm unsure if I'll be doing more posts before Christmas. Milton, South Otago, New Zealand. Super cute! All the tables... Continue Reading →
Very pretty tree from the central Andes between Chile and Argentina. Grows well in the south of NZ. Luma apiculata or orange-wood. Taken by Liz 08 Dec 2019.
We'd left Taieri Mouth, driving along south coast when we found this tidy verge and pine hedge with view to sea (left). Assuming farmer looks after this. Nigel 08 Dec.
These photos were taken by Nigel when we were at Dunedin Botanic Garden on 08 Dec 2019. He said the small deformed tree is a Photinia and it appears to have died back several times. Despite the knocks it's growing steadily. Perhaps its resilience in the face of adversity has inspired the Botanic Garden people... Continue Reading →
