Wordless Wednesday

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Slow, gentle autumn

Our incredible summer has given way to a slow, gentle and warm autumn with the occasional storm and chilly snap.

No matter the calmness and mild temperatures because the light is decreasing noticeably now and the shortest day is only a month or so away.
Lowering light levels and the cold of last weekend has seen leaf colour turn and the leaves beginning to fall in large numbers now.

On a short walk yesterday before the rain set in I captured these photos.

Wordless Wednesday

Much of my country is in a state of drought. My garden is very thirsty. But in the bush there are always lovely plants that speak of damp, refreshment, coolness and green.

A walk in the Tree tops

One of the special features at Otari Open air plant Museum is the Tree top walk.
This wooden walkway begins here with a Waharoa or gateway into a spiritual realm.


Ahead are tall trees.

The walkway bridges the Open air Museum to the Information Centre and spans a deep, deep gully.

For those who dare to look over the sturdy rail there are fascinating views to be had.
Look at the wonderful star shape that forms in the crown of a large tree fern.

While the walkway is in the canopy of tall New Zealand Native trees there are plenty which reach higher than the walkway.

This is where we spotted one Keruru.

Every so often there are views out over the greater Otari Bush reserve showing viewers this very rugged countryside that is so typical of the hills of Wellington.

And the density of the native bush when it is left to its own devices.

Some very old and beautiful specimen are within reach.

And at the end of the walkway there is another Keruru perched very high up on what appears to be a twig.

While we had something of a bird’s eye view on the walkway we were really being viewed all the while by the birds.

Waitangi Day is Wordless Wednesday

Today at Otari-Wilton Bush Reserve.

Ferny Friday

A change of scenery and some fresh air was needed today and we headed to Battle Hill, Pauatahanui.

It is a working farm, run by the Greater Wellington Regional Council but it is also a historic site and includes various areas of regeneration.

These lovely tree ferns (Pongas) were on the edge of a large area of regenerating native bush. I love tree ferns and enjoyed the light and the way the ferns shifted and moved in the breeze.