We have had over 60mm of rain in the past 4 days. The garden is saturated again. It has also been unseasonably warm thanks to sub-tropical air.
In a break in the rain I went out into the garden to take some photos.
Low cloud and mist was clothing the nearby hill.
The autumn colours of Viburnum Opulus (Sterile)
Raindrops on the Fuchsia that defies neglect and hard pruning. It refuses to bush up but it survives.
And finally a Lavender flower.
Photos from the garden, perhaps hinting at autumn.
Today it is heading past 24C and we have sub-tropical air wafting over us, so the humidity is up again.
The Cotoneaster leaves offered a wide palette of colours while the Nandina offered its scarlet intensity. The past autumn with its crisp nights, clear sunny and calm days meant a more striking autumn season here in the garden.
Here in the garden it is definitely autumn. The deciduous trees are dropping leaves or are about to begin that process. The blazing Japanese Maple (acer palmatum sango kaku, Carol-bark maple) has all but finished its stunning display and the last leaves are falling.
However next to the tree is Feijoa Bambina which has three poor sized fruit on it, after a stunning flowering period in spring. It mistakenly thinks it is spring with this dramatic single flower appearing and other flower buds showing.
So much about gardening involves puzzlement and surprise.
A new “smarty pants” camera means a lot of playing is needed to learn how it works and how to get satisfying results with it.
The Japanese Maple tree has provided me with a great subject to play around with on the camera. I also love to explore light as I take photographs.
So some of these following images are taken with the sunlight behind me, some with the leaves backlit, others a wonderful example of the sheer beauty this tree has offered to us in the past fortnight.
We planted a Japanese maple in our garden almost 20 years ago and it offers delight during every season. Spring and autumn are the most spectacular times for this tree to display its beauty. We have not enjoyed settled weather at all this year until late April. Since then we have had some splendid autumn weather and perhaps chilly nights, no wind and warm days account for the amazing colour display we have been enjoying. Members of the household agree that this has been one of the very best displays we have seen on this tree.
These photos were taken on 25th April 2017 and show the branchlets turning fiery red but the leaves a mix of green and coloured.
Three days later I took some more photos. Look out for these in my next post.
Katydid
What Katydid….nibbled on my roses. (With apologies to author Susan Coolidge)
This morning, in the early morning autumn light
My camera has been quietly resting for the last few weeks but I have been out and about on a few days in March this year.
Here are my favourite photographs from March. I really like the contrasts between the brown bleached hills and the lush greens seen in the trees and leaves of other photos. Nature showing so much of its best around or near my home.
The big dry on the Belmont Hills
Early morning at home
Silhouette of a Fantail. A fleeting moment of stillness.
Kereru feasting on Karamu berries ( I think)
The stunning work of a small spider.
This ball of feathers is a fantail preening – so little stillness with these delightful birds
ordinarygoodness 