Kowhai

Springtime is definately here in Wellington. All sorts of trees introduced from the Northern Hemisphere are starting to show their glorious blossoms and blooms, and the fruit trees are so welcome. My local supermarket has a garden section, with plants raised to cope with Wellington's frequent strong wind. A joy to view every springtime in New Zealand is the flowering of the native Kowhai Tree -


This one has been planted in a small garden between the supermarket's garden centre and the ramp for cars to go down to the lower carpark! ( I took this photo while coming up the trolley ramp) Usually I 'm not a fan of golden yellow flowers, but this Kowhai Tree is so beautiful, a spot of golden glory amongst all the grey concrete and urban walls. Inspired planting by the supermarket's owners!

Another One!

Stick Insect that is - this time in the brown colourway. The head is at the top. It is holding the 3rd set of leggies together at the bottom.

Christchurch and the Canterbury area are still receiving many after-shocks - over 120 so far with some measuring as high as 5.1. I just heard on the radio news that the water supply has been thoroughly tested and has just now been given the all clear to drink (folks have had to boil all water for the past few days). The scientific boffins think this particular faultline hadn't moved for 16 thousand years, so you'll understand our suprise at Christchurch being hit!

All is fine at Mickle and Zebbycat's home this evening - I'm blogging and he's snoring.

Wellington is okay

Many thanks for the comments and emails asking about our welfare after the huge earthquake down in Christchurch.

The quake was felt in Wellington but not by us - Mickle and Zebby slept through it all, completely unaware, and we have no damage. My Uncle and Aunt who live in Christchurch were over at their holiday home in Akaroa on Banks Peninsula. While they would have felt the quake the worst they had was no electricity today. Of course they have yet to check their Christchurch home however, for now they are better to stay put. If we were to pick a city here to be struck by a major earthquake Christchurch is probably the last one we would think of - Wellington is considered to be overdue "the big one".

Christchurch is built on an alluvial plain which shook like jelly (jello). A lot of the damage to homes is from brick chimneys falling down. There is a great deal of damage in the inner city, especially to older buildings built from bricks. While talking with my sister Liz (over in London, UK) tonight we realised that Christchurch hasn't had the massive redevelopment that has happened in Wellington and Auckland. We have very strict building standards now.

Along with damage to buildings the water mains and sewer pipes are affected - some suburbs were flooded. While today and tomorrow have been dry, tomorrow Christchurch will be blasted with gale force winds which may affect already unstable buildings and structures.

For more information check out www.stuff.co.nz .

And on the third day of Spring ...

...nature delivered a sharp shock at 5.30pm. Flashes of lightening, deep booms of thunder and hail pelting down. Afterwards I opened the front door to this:


It very seldom snows here so this is the closest I get to cold, white, wet stuff lying around on the ground.


Full sympathy for my neighbour arriving home from work in the middle of it all - I wouldn't like to be coming down our demon steps with all the slippery hail stones.



After an unsettled half hour Zebby went back to the comfort of snuggling down on the bed under his battered quilty comforter, and peace returned to our home. Okay, so now it is sleeting but at least the boomies have gone away!

First day of Spring

The 1st of September and, amazingly, the sun shone and there was very little
wind or cloud so I had blue, blue skies above

and bright blue, blue grape hyacinth flowers just outside the front door.

With a green, green stick insect on the handrailing .....

And a purry, purry Zebbycat all snug, secure and cosy under his battered quilty comforter.

Never mind, Northern Hemispherers - the weather is due to pack up here tomorrow, back to wind and rain. Zebby will be fine inside; I'm the one who has to go out in it all, lol!

Wednesday ...

... was a beautiful Winter's day with lots of sun and little wind. I headed out in the afternoon and, for once, remembered to take the camera with me. First up we're looking south-east from the top of the driveway.


I walked up the road to the top and crossed over the next road. Here is the view, looking over to the west and the suburb of Karori.


Down the hill (the road that curves up on the right) to the bus-stop. While I waited I watched the building activity across the way. The little house on the lower left had been moved forward on the section so another dwelling could be built behind it - the horrible "in-fill" housing. Above and behind a house built in the 1920/30s is being renovated. The living space is being moved from the front to the back of the house where the best sun is.

Once in town I walked over to the supermarket. To get there I have to go through our Parliament Grounds. Nothing new to me as I used to walk through them to get to High School.


A little hard to tell as the light wind chose to disappear, but flags on all Govt buildings were flying at halfmast as it was the day of the funeral of a New Zealand soldier who had been killed on active service in Afghanistan.




Now it is Saturday evening and the rain is pouring down while the wind blows. Zebby has hunkered down under his "quilt" leaving me free to knit. These days his interference has moved from swinging on the knitting needles to patting me on the thigh, claws extended. My darling menace!

Ah, August

The days are getting a little longer and new growth is appearing in my wilderness - like the arum lily that has self-sewn itself in the middle of the parsley patch!


The first flowers are opening on the grape hyacinths. They will deepen to an almost purple-blue.



And the lawn-mowing service has just visited so "His Rotundity" has to hunt more to find long grass to munch upon.



Determined hunting activity (moving forward by one foot) delivers a tasty treat. You've got to have your greens.



Back inside Zebby can work off the excess energy on his new scratching board. This board is way more fun than clawing at the curtains - and His human doesn't yell at him either.


Mind you, she's still not keen on the Zebster "poke her in the face" wake-up method!