Central Plateau, North Island

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

Friday, 1 August 2014

August Flowers that bring colour to our Winter

 

We are still theoretically in winter, but the spring Daffodils are blooming,along with Grape Hyacinth, Snowdrop, and the stunning Protea Neriifolia , which has so many buds and flowers. A few photos from our place, some with a little, or a bit more Post Processing.

Protea Neriifolia budProtea buds

Protea Neriifolia

This reminds me of old school photos, the original black and white mellowed with the years to an aged sepia look.

King Alfred with some PP

Later this afternoon 2 pigeons  , the New Zealand Pigeon or Kereru visited us. They balanced on the far branches, eating berries, oblivious to me standing directly underneath, the thought in my mind, I did have glasses on, maybe a hat would be a wise addition!!!

Pigeon #2One Pigeon

pigeon #2 , I was right underneath

Quotation of the day, from Minnie Aumonier

“  There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. “

Greetings  from Jean

24 comments:

eileeninmd said...

It is nice to see the blooms beginning. Neat sighting of the pigeon..Pretty images, Enjoy your weekend!

Diana Studer said...

I guess you are in NZ?
This week we went hking up on our mountain, and saw that same protea blooming.

Lindsjö taxar said...

Hi! Beautiful flowers....we have so hot here in Sweden. THis summer its unusually very warm. We hade some Days with ordinary summer temperatures but now the heat wave will come again.

My name its not Lindsjo , thats our homes name. I have a nick name Majsan which most of my friends say. Its not so easy to know.
Have a great weekend!
Majsan//

Leeanne said...

beautiful photos! While I was outside the other day photographing a customer quilt, I spotted a lovely big wood pigeon in the tree, such a beautiful sight!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What lovely blooms and a nice quote at the end too.

Have a wonderful weekend ~ FlowerLady

Georgia said...

Happy Spring! I can only hope that our Autumn will be showing itself soon. In reality I think I'll need to wait till at least the end of October! Those Protea are fabulous!

Carol Mattingly said...

It does look like Spring. So beautiful.

TexWisGirl said...

wow, the spring blooms are nice to have - even if a bit early! laughed at the 'hat' commentary. :)

Brit said...

Nice flowers and it must be very nice to look forward to spring.....I wish we had moore spring and summer and less winter :) / Brit

Jim said...

OK Jean! I/we want to have 'winters' just like your winters!! You live in such a different and beautiful part of this world.
What beautiful blossoms and I like the the bird photos too!
Br-r-r-r!!!!!

Susan Heather said...

Your proteas look lovely. We had several different ones when we were in the Far North but I don't have any here.

Lovely to see two kereru.

Our photos said...

Nice flowers. I like the 3rd one !

Nancy J said...

Hi RW, I did some PP with Picasa on that 3rd one, and liked the depth of colour. But it isn't too far from what they are really, just deeper and brighter. Cheers, Jean.

Karen said...

Flowers in winter, how grand! That's a huge pigeon!

Janet said...

The Protea are gorgeous! And wonderful photos as always. I like the quote today. It always amazes me how much music there is in the forest when you really stop and listen.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Lovely flowers- and it might be wise to take along a hat if you are going to stand under any birds for very long! :)

Lindsjö taxar said...

Hi Jean! Thanks for your nice comment. Yes its type hay bales , the farmer is now collecting them. We have about 10 min to our Little lake where we are Always alone. We have 2 other lakes in 2-3 km , our area is known with lots of lakes and forrest.
Yes its a Little boat you see behind. The puppies are well

Inger said...

Lovely flowers and I love to listen to the music in the trees. I wake up early and when I hear that first little twitter from the birds that live in our junipers, I smile.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

There really is nothing like those first blooms of the season -- And the Kereru is really interesting, and I think I'd wear a hat! :-)

I hope you're doing well, and I hope you've had a good weekend!

camp and cottage living said...

My goodness, that is such a huge pigeon, Jean!
Are you having a mild winter there? I'm surprised to see so many flowers are blooming.
Do you have any saffron crocus growing where you live?

Jenn Jilks said...

I do love seeing your wildlife from your part of the world. For Canadian gardeners, many of us try to create a garden that looks good in 4 seasons. This means dried plants that stand, comforted in a blanket of snow, in the winter.
I have a garden that is great 3 seasons, with blooms in all. I am so blessed, as it came with the house!
Lovely photos. Cheers!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

Leanne said...

Love the quote! Spring is a coming ye ha

Nancy J said...

Hi Kimberly, no we don't have saffron crocus here, probably could grow some, but not commercially, 3 places in the South Island that would suit it for climate, and very labour intensive. Spring, Leanne? Cold here, wet and the wind and snow will be all over the far south today, Wellington already, and chimney cleaning man arriving this morning so the fires are cold, cannot have him trying to work on a hot chimney. Gas just isn't the same. Love those socks, Abbey ,And to you all, Hugh is still struggling, specially the mornings, another orthopod visit appointment at last, on 21st, hope the steroid injections work longer this time. Cheers,Jean.

Here I Am Carrie said...

Spring is just around the corner for you. Glad you both have made it through another winter. My flowers are in full bloom. I had too take a bunch of container plants to our place in town to enjoy them there also. Hope Spring come soon for you and you are always in thoughts and prayers. Hugs Carrie