bLoG
The ups and downs
Rā 41, Rāmere 10 o Huitānguru 2017
I was going to post a photo of my big son but it didn’t turn out very flattering, so, looks like another handstand! Handstand by the lake.
Rā 1, Rātapu 1 o Kohitātea 2017
Here we go again!
Day 1 Photo a Day 2017
Hamilton Gardens has always been a special place for us. We discovered it when we first arrived in January 2008 and were blown away by the special gardens and how well designed they are. Since then so much more has been added but we still love the gardens in the centre. It was a bit busy today but great to see so many people enjoying the sun, the plants and being together with family and friends on New Year’s Day. This is the Chinese Scholar’s Garden.
Rā 256, Rāhina 12 o Mahuru
I’ve decided to take a walk every lunchtime to make sure I have a break otherwise I just eat at my desk. The gardens really are beautiful now with all the trees and flowers bursting into colour. The scents are amazing and the birdsong is fantastic. I took lots of photos but I think the Kowhai is my favourite. I couldn’t get a good photo of the Tui or the Wax Eyes feeding but I watched as they flitted from flower to flower.
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It is said that the Kowhai sprung from the shreds of the cloak of tohunga Ngatoro-I-rangi of the Te Arawa waka on its arrival to Aotearoa. The legend says that a young tohunga asks a girl to marry him while they sit under the bare branches of a Kowhai tree in the month of August. She replies that she will only marry him if he can perform some brilliant act. “I will show you what I can do. I will cause this tree to spring instantly into flower before your eyes.” He uses all his powers and the tree bursts into bloom, his final touch causing a ring of yellow blossoms to appear around the dark hair of the girl. Ever since, say Te Arawa, the Kowhai has flowered on bare and leafless branches |
Day 136 May 15th 2016
It is hard to believe that only a few weeks away from the shortest day it is still warm enough to sit outside for breakfast. Nigel and I went for a gentle stroll around the beautiful Hamilton Gardens this morning which means that I have heaps of photos to choose from today. Too many! So this one is my pick just because it sort of represents history. All the others are in our Flickr stream.
