The Golden Days of Spring 2019

A lovely New Zealand native Kowhai tree in

Cornwall Park.

The flowers nectar is a food source for birds

especially two of our native birds

Kereru (a large wood pigeon) 

Tui, called the Parson Bird

because it has a white tuft at it's neck

resembling a Parson's collar!

I enjoyed my walk in Cornwall Park 
to see the
the golden daffodils and kowhai flowers.
True to Spring
there were new lambs and calves too!

Take care and

be kind to one another.

My thoughts are with all those in the 

Bahamas and the US

affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The damage and chaos is horrific.

You are very much in the thoughts of all

New Zealanders and we are sending 

our prayers your way. 

Take care.

Mary and Bob, I was so happy to read

Mary's post and know you are both safe.

Merci à bientôt

Shane

Glimpses of Spring 2018

Spring 
is
waking to the sound of birdsong each morning
and
looking out through my kitchen window
to see my garden coming alive again!

Spring 
is
Rosebuds unfolding into
beautiful blooms

Spring

is

Cherry blossom trees in the park

and

carpets of petals beneath the trees.

Wishing

you all a happy and enjoyable weekend

in your little corner of the world!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Mosaic Monday - Looking Back at March

I'm pressed for time this week so I decided to look back on

some of my previous posts.

I'm working tomorrow morning and

I have a dental appointment in the afternoon.

Then on Wednesday morning I'm flying to Queensland, Australia.

Cyclone Debbie has created havoc - I've looked at the photos on line

and the devastation is incredible - nature at her worst.

It's heartbreaking for families whose homes  have been destroyed.

I feel somewhat guilty arriving for a holiday amid such chaos.

I will be catching up with a very dear blog friend in Brisbane

whom I met two years ago when she was passing through

Auckland on her way to see her family in Canada.

Have you guessed who she is?

All will be revealed very soon!

 I'll be out and about taking photos and if time allows

I'll join you all next Monday.

Thank you dear Maggie for hosting

MOSAIC MONDAY

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting.

Early Autumn Down Under

My garden is losing it's energy - slowly and quietly 
giving in to the demands of Autumn

A host/ubiquity/quarrel of Sparrows.
I couldn't think what a group of sparrows was called
I consulted Mr Google
and I found these names here - and thought they were quite interesting!

An amazing Autumn sunset

Some of the delicious fruits of Autumn

Oh how I love these figs - given to me by one of my work mates.
I poach them in a little white wine, add a drizzle of honey
and serve with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Oh so yummy!


I'm joining
Fast Five on Friday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting!

My Summer Garden - Mosaic Monday

Welcome to my summer garden

with a little glimpse of what's been flowering

over the last few months.

I wish I could transport the fragrance that wafts in the air

as I water the garden in the early evening 

it's my favourite time of day

when I feel all is well in my little world!

I'm always planning my next garden!

When we downsize in the not too distant future

I plan to design my garden with fragrance and texture in mind.

My dear mother lost her sight in her latter years

but she still appreciated the beauty of a garden

by touch and smell.

'It is a golden maxim to cultivate the garden for the nose,
and the eyes will take care of themselves'.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

I'm joining Maggie for Mosaic Monday

do follow the link and visit some of the other bloggers.

Thank you Maggie for hosting!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for popping in to say hello - I love reading your comments.

With my work committments I visit as time allows - usually at weekends!

Visiting Gardens with my dear friend...

In March last year one of my dearest friends moved out of Auckland.

It took me a long time to come to grips with Jen not being here.

We've been friends such a long time, 

in fact since I was 18 - that's 56 years! 

I think I've mentioned before that Friday is my MahJong day

and I would usually catch up with Jen for a cup of coffee or lunch afterwards.

She's also my best shopping mate - we like the same things

and I've missed our shopping sprees hugely.

However she is happy in her new home at Mount Maunganui

a seaside town in the Bay of Plenty.

She made the right decision to move out of the big city.

In about October Jen phoned to tell me there was an

Art and Garden Festival in her neck of the woods in November

and suggested I pop down for the weekend!

This was our first catch up in person since she stayed with us

before her big move.

It was so good to be together again and see her new home,

and catch up with her children

Annie her Labradoodle and her cat Molly..

We talked and talked late into the night - as all old friends do. 

The Gardens

We picked out several country gardens to visit

and they were all well worth while seeing. 

I take my hat off to the organisers who managed this event.

Everything went like clockwork,

as well as stunning gardens and friendly hosts and hostesses.

Directions and signs were spot on too - thank you!

There were delightful watering holes along the way to stop

and enjoy a cup of tea, sandwiches and other yummy goodies!

I hope my Northern Hemisphere friends enjoy my Summer photos!

I  must tell you how much I'm enjoying your "snow" photos.

Being a bird lover, I'm particularly interested in seeing photos

of your bird feeders and the birds who visit your gardens.

Where I live in New Zealand, it doesn't get cold enough for snow in winter

so maybe that's the reason we don't have a good selection

of feeders available here.

My friend Mary who blogs at A Breath of Fresh Air

welcomes all birds who venture into her garden for winter snacks.

In fact generations of birds have been taught by their parents

to include Mary and Bob's garden on their Winter food GPS route!

Do pop over to her blog and say hello

you will love her amazing bird photos.

She ensures there is an unlimited supply of food available

during the cold winter months,

in the form of suet, seeds and peanuts 

(which sometimes the naughty squirrels devour)!

On behalf of all those hungry birds and squirrels

Thank you Mary dear!

I'm joining Maggie for

Mosaic Monday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Autumn Blues in the Garden

For the last couple of weekends I've been busy
re-planting my garden pots with
winter flowering bulbs and annuals.

Grape Hyacinths are one of my favourite Spring bulbs.
I planted 20 bulbs around the rim
 of the large bulb planter,
with 10 scented Double Freesia bulbs in the centre.
I think they should make a good display come Spring.

It was cold and wet the day I planted them,
the weather changed a few days later
back to sunshine and warm temps...
next time I checked the Grape Hyacinths were up!
Perhaps I'll have to plant another lot
for a Spring display.
The weather has been totally out of whack this season!

I love spending time poking about at the garden centre
checking out the new plants on offer.
With our small townhouse garden I've learnt to
be selective and not to buy on impulse!
I've also learnt to put more time into
researching and planning my garden beds and pots
and keeping to a theme.

Then again.... I simply couldn't resist the little bird house
with the pretty blue roof!
And there were the gorgeous new
pink and blue gardening gloves
they were just waiting for me, I know it!

Are you a self controlled shopper like me?!

I'm joining Jeanne for Blue Monday
and
Judith for Mosaic Monday

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt



Shane

Thank you for your visits!

Summer Blues

Blue Agapanthus are common plants

in both New Zealand and Australia.

It's a sign of Summer in both our countries.

I took these photos when I was in Maldon, Australia

at Christmas.

In New Zealand 

Agapantus have been declared an invasive weed

by The Department of Conservation.

It is thought it arrived here with soldiers returning

from the second Boer War in South Africa.

It seems growing conditions here are perfect

and they can be found from North Cape

to Stewart Island, the southern most point of 

our country.

Aggies - as they're affectionately called

line the pathway to the house where we stayed.

Needless to say I felt quite at home here

thanks to the gorgeous blue aggies!

I'm joining Jeanne for 

Blue Monday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Red Geraniums en France

A quick post today as I'm working.

I'm joining the girls for

Ruby Tuesday Too


Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt




Shane