Today is the shortest day and many people have been celebrating this winter solstice, acknowledging the importance of the dark but anticipating the return of the light.
It continues to be a very testing year here in New Zealand, especially for the residents of Christchurch and surrounding areas.
While nature has been showing her hand dramatically in many ways, nature has also been kind to us here in “windy” Wellington. We have had an exceptionally long period of calm weather with temperatures being unseasonably warm and none of us have any complaints about those two features.
We have had a good many days of cloud this week and the daylight is very low. However from my living room window there is a flowering cherry tree which still has an abundance of leaves which have all turned into their autumn finery after some clear, chilly nights last week.
Set against the low light it is a beacon of colour and vibrancy to relish and to remind us that sun, light and heat will return in time.
My photos do not necessarily do it justice as it seems to glow to the naked eye.
ordinarygoodness 
There seem to be a lot of colours still in those leaves. Happy winter solstice Lynley.
Thanks Juliet.