A Walk in our Bush

 We went for a walk in our bush today. We need to do it more often, not just when we have grandchildren here. It is such a magical place. Today Mac and I were accompanied by Spike the Cat,

Sammy, the six year old granddaughter,

 and Bob the Dog.

 We are so glad to see the nikaus coming back in the bush - there were only a couple when we came here, due to horses being allowed to graze there.

 Looking across the stream to the neighbours' island.

 The supplejacks can be hard to get through in places, but

 are great to swing on.

 I don't like spiders, but I love their amazing webs.

 Spike didn't seem to trust the little bridge that the boys built last time they were here.

 Spike ran up a tree trunk to join Sammy in the tree hut - and actually fell out!

 He was then extremely embarrassed and attacked Bob the Dog, blaming him for the fall! Poor Bob. Mac grabbed Spike and threw him in the stream where Spike had chased Bob. He was not a happy catty!

 And home.

Of Apple Blossom and Orthodera novaezealandia

Is it a sign of senility

or maturity

that I don’t notice

the helicopter flying low

because I am absorbed

in the apple blossoms,

in how the pink buds

of the eating apple

are so much softer

than the vibrant red

of those of the cooking apple;

and that the old barn

is of interest

not because of people

and possible adventures

but because

of the praying mantis nymphs

struggling

to escape their egg case,

and the spider’s web

threaded across it?

In Flower Today

 A native - I've forgotten what it's called, but it's so pretty in an understated way.

 Blueberries in the making.

 Elderflower cordial in the making

 Monty's Surprise apples.

 A grape flower. Haha - three of the chooks roost on the grapevine on the fence - I guess one got caught short and didn't make it to the nesting box.

 One of my mother-in-law's cuttings gone crazy.

 A scrap bucket avocado.

 An apple tree that got blown almost down in the winter storms.

 Last of the pear blossom.

 Another Monty's Surprise.

 Cooking apple

 Nashi - 5 days ago there were just a handful of flowers out.

An apricot tree my aunt (who died about 10 years ago) grew from a stone, and gave to me in a pot. I never took it out of the pot, never got around to planting it, but still it grows.

Even the buttercups provide food - not directly for us, but the bees collect the pollen to feed the brood. 

 

And they are so very beautiful.

Spring Happenings

Spring always seems to sneak up on me: I think it is never going to arrive, then there's a hint of it,  and suddenly it's overwhelming me with its busyness, and I don't seem to have time to think, let alone write about it.

Mac has a new, two day a week, temporary job in Tauranga, which brings in a lot more money than lawn mowing and tree planting, but means staying away one night a week which neither of us likes.

I have a part time, casual job - my first paid employment for 34 years - taking little trees out of little pots and putting them in bigger pots for Mac to plant out next winter.

It's a dream job: working in a beautiful garden, listening to the birds, bees and butterflies busy all around, learning heaps about plants from Peter, and working more or less when it suits me.

 I need to grow some of these - Peter's have bees all over them

 I also seem to come home from work every time with a plant or a seed of some kind. These seed have sprouted and one day I hope we will have an inga bean / ice cream bean tree or two.

The elections spoiled things a bit. Well, a lot really, but it's done and we just have to live in hope of a better result next time.

As always, spring brings my birthday, and I had a lovely party.

Amy and Kim brought me three mini yard glasses for my 21stx3! And Emma brought me whisky to put in them. Very spoilt.

The family and friends came with food and drink and gifts. Simon and Rebecca brought me the beautiful print you can see on the wall above.

Outside the animals are doing what animals do. I don't know why people say, 'happy as a pig in muck,' when 'happy as a duck in muck,' is way more true, and sounds better too!

After losing my last hive, I was very sad, until someone rang and offered me a swarm of bees.

The dining area turned into a seed raising area.

The golden elm flowered,

as has the self sown hebe, carried here by a bird I presume.

The wind and rain has been overwhelming at times,

  

 But the wild carrot, that I love, perseveres.

 

The chooks are laying.

The gardens are ready

and it's really hard to wait, as we have learned is necessary here,

until the earth is a little warmer, and those spring storms have passed.

 

I must put the bird netting over the strawberries, but in the meantime the rhubarb keeps on giving.

The potatoes are just up.

And finally we have a kowhai that has survived long enough to flower!