Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Thursday 22 May 2014

My Own Photos at Last

 

The last 2 weeks have been a bit fraught with Hugh’s returned pain, need of crutches every morning, and all the associated things that go with that. This morning I decided it was high time I was out in the garden for some of our  own nature’s beauty.  The Scarlet Oak leaves are true to the name, stunning on the tree, and brown on the lawn. Wow, if only I was that tall in real life!!!

A Rhododendron has 2 blooms, both stunning against the greenery,

A small Azalea hedge shows some pink blooms, and in the area where we have firewood trees, the Lawsoniana  cones, small, and numerous, are almost a luminous grey/blue shade.

When I walked to the front and looked back to  our home, the grass was almost frosty, Bruce and Kath’s motor home bus parked handy to the front door.

The Scarlet Oak tree.

Red leaves waiting to fall

The Rhododendron,  there are two blooms like this.

Scarlet Rhododendron

We have a small Azalea hedge,  the early morning sunshine was bright, just in this spot.

Pink Azalea flowers in Autumn

Maybe in another 10 or 20 years, this  Lawsoniana tree will be big enough for firewood.Meantime, I so like the way the small cones fall, almost a pale turquoise, nature’s beauty right here.

Lawsoniana tree cones

My shadow, at 10.16 a.m. wish I was so tall. And just on case you have any doubts, here I am at Piropiro Flats, with Finn, one of the  three young  men here on holiday from Germany

Jean's shadow and leaves on the ground

Finn & Jean,Piropiro 2013

Finally, the motor home bus, some smoke from the chimney, and white lawns.Bruce, the intrepid quad bike rider, if there is trouble anywhere, he will find it, and then Hugh to the rescue,They have had some great times together.Can you see his trailer under the elm tree, ( The quad bike is safely tucked away in another part of the garden) it is always part of his and Kath’s travels.

Almost a frost on the grass

Quotation of the day

“ Look no further than your own back yard, to find                  beauty there every day”

Greetings from Jean

20 comments:

camp and cottage living said...

Good to see you had time for a little photo taking, Jean.
I always hate to hear that Hugh is having pain again. I expect it is so hard for him to make the lifestyle adjustments required now
You are both in my thoughts and prayers-Kimberly

Jim said...

Hi Jean!
Such a lovely post.....reflective in nature.
Blossoms ? this time of year there? Unusual or second 'flush'?

Jean, you are 'tall' in so many ways.....personality,kind-heartedness, gardening skills, weather forecaster.....

Being tall isn't always what it is held up to be in the regular sense of the word.....so many other ways to be 'tall'.

Have a wonderful; day and regards/encouragement to Hugh with his difficulties. All the best.
Jim

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I'm also glad you were able to get out to take some photos. The smoke drifting from the chimney was so picturesque.

I am so sorry to hear that Hugh is having pain again.

Love, hugs and prayers for the both of you ~ FlowerLady

June said...

Such an apt quotation for you Jean, such beautiful colours. Thinking of you.

The Furry Gnome said...

That's one tall visitor you have! Nice looking home too. I didn't realize you'd have rhododendrons and azaleas there. They won't survive the winter here.

Karen said...

Your autumn colours are beautiful! I love your shadow selfie! That's quite a towering young man.
Sorry to hear that Hugh is experiencing more pain :(

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful photos. laughed at you back-to-back with mr. giant from germany. :)

i am hoping hugh will be feeling better! bless you!

Carol Mattingly said...

Wow that guy is so tall. It is so beautiful there this time of year.

Hannah said...

Blessings for Hugh's swift recovery. We are having Rhododendron and Azalea blooms here for spring, it's strange to see yours in fall. The Scarlet Oak is a wonderful red color. The photo with the young man is amazing, how tall is he?

Nancy J said...

Thanks you all for your caring words, the mornings are not the best, late afternoons ditto, daytime in the middle is not so bad. Hugh is coping, but worried about this relapse. Ditto for me. Finn, the young man, must be at least 6'6" tall , or in metres, 1.98 m, the 3 were all tall, but Finn the tallest. We have rain this morning, the fire is lit, our friends will be here tonight before making their way to a rough road in the Central Plateau. I'll update that on my next post, Bruce has been warned of the perilous rough track!!! Jean.

Susan Heather said...

Lovely garden and great photos Jean. I do hope Hugh starts to improve soon.

Love the photo of you and Finn.

We have rain forecast for tomorrow - it has been an amazing autumn so far.

Anonymous said...

Happy to see you taking some beautiful photos. Prayers for you to get relief from the pain!

Leanne said...

not fun for Hugh re pain, nor you as caregiver/wife. Lovely to see your garden changing - I just love wandering outside and seeing what is new.

Ashling said...

Wishing Hugh a quick recovery and you alot more time for your stunning photographs. Is the scarlet oak always that color???

Lindsjö taxar said...

Hi!
Thanks for your comments. Macro isnt easy.
You need lot of practice.Wonderful blooms you have

eileeninmd said...

Jean, your place is lovely. The azaleas blooms are beautiful. That is one tall visitor.. Love the shadow shot.. I hope you dear hubby can get some relief.. Wishing you a happy week ahead!

KB said...

I've been taking a break from the computer so I am very sad to read that Hugh's pain has returned. I sure hope that there's relief in sight. I'm glad that you took a few moments to go out in the garden this morning and enjoy the glory of mother nature.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Love your photo taking! Every thing is so beautiful. Hope that Hugh's pain goes away. Boy, Finn, is a tall young man!! Have a wonderful week.

Jenn Jilks said...

It's terrible when a loved one is in pain, isn't it? My husband had prostate cancer, but it wasn't all removed. I'm so sad.

Here I Am Carrie said...

I am finally surrounded by green and soon you will be loosing yours. I can't believe how many beautiful flowers you still have. Oh just make me cold to think of frosty morning right now as we are finally getting into summer. The garden and flowers are all in. Somehow we have gotten ourselves into so much work here I don't know when we will find time to start at our new property. I am just going to take it one day at a time. I do hope Hugh dosn't have to suffer through the winter.