Winter in NZ

[vilakins]

I posted these photos to show_me_a_world for this week's topic on the season, and thought I'd put them on my journal too as people may be interested.

It's winter here, ho hum. It's often dark, grey, wet, and unrelieved by any bright spots unlike northern winters. It's not helped by all our native trees being evergreen, but at least there are some flowers out in our garden.

I took all of these over three days (wet, misty, and sunny respectively) in our garden or from a window.


Wet lower deck.


Ferns reflected on wet railing


Rainy view from bedroom window


Misty morning, which turned into quite a sunny day


White camellias. These always bloom in June, and seeing them come out a week ago reminded me of my cat Claudia who died on the 18th last year, a beautiful sunny winter's day on which I saw the first camellia.


The tree beside that one has deep pink camellias which bloom later, and the buds are starting to show colour.


Vireya (tropical rhododendron). This is on the deck in a pot and badly needs repotting or planting in the garden. I am not a good gardener.


European tree and neighbour's house. My sister is lucky enough to have all European trees around her house in the country, so she gets lots of light in winter.

Comments

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, your winter is different from our, and maybe that this season in NZ seems so dull to you. But no, not with all those flowers and ferns! Lovely Camelias, thank you very much, and I do remember Claudia and her departure.Through the white blossoms, she signals to you that she is still with you.
I think you see the bare branches in quite a different way than we Europeans. For us they are a reflections of short, sad days. Only covered with snow or fantastic crystals of frozen fog, they look beautiful.
Winter in NZ is something new for me, thank you!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ferns are common, but there aren't many flowers at all. We're lucky to have them in our garden. The pink camellias will be out next month, I hope, and then there will be clivias and magnolias in August. From then on, I'll start to see spring blossom in the streets.

And yes, those white camellias will always remind me of Claudia. Tessa too, since they both loved to chase the fallen buds which we threw for them. Jasmin and Ashley aren't that interested.

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

It's amazing comparing pets once the worst of the hurt has subsided, isn't it? Jasper has some habits that Rusty would never have considered. Including digging things in my parents' garden. Mum is a good gardener, but has lost her potted bean crop to Jasper's habit of carelessly snapping at any green thing within reach of his muzzle. (He does this to artificial green stuff too, silly thing.)

I particularly the views down the hill.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I sometimes think Jasmin is the naughtiest and most untrainable cat I've had, till I remember what Claudia was like for her first three years and how many plushies and shoes she destroyed. I think Jasmin is finally calming down.