subtle autumn

It is all a wee bit strange at present, noticing just the first changes of autumn around me. So far, the changes have mainly been quite subtle, though in places the deciduous trees are starting to look more obviously autumnal. The strangeness comes from the fact that I know when I reach Paris in less than three weeks now, I am going to be plunged headlong into spring, with blossoms blooming, and leaves budding out in spring green. But then when I start walking at a higher altitude, I will 'step back' again towards winter where some trees might still be quite bare.

But for now, I am still home in the southern hemisphere, in the subtle part of autumn. Out walking this morning I even saw a tree in full blossom- a native lacebark, which rather unusually does flower profusely in autumn.

And back home in my garden, I looked at the magnolia that is the first garden tree to blossom when the spring arrives. Its leaves are only just showing the first signs of autumnal browning, but when I looked closely, I was surprised to see the buds that will burst forth in a few months time are already forming.

This blog will have a little hiatus soon. For those of you who want to follow a little of my exploits in France, I will try and blog when I can at another blog, Festina Lente.

363: Esplanade

Only three days to go now to show you photos in my 365- and this might be the last outdoor photo, as rain is forecast to end the year. The blue skies of previous days have already been replaced by grey cloud cover, though it is still warm enough at 24C. This photo was taken at the Esplanade, with bright summer annuals in the foreground, and the avenue of phoenix palms behind. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a short walk anytime of the year, as there are always different things in bloom.

362: homegrown salad

 

I have a friend who is not only a superb cook, she is also a wonderful gardener. Most of the veges in this salad have come from her own garden. Fresh and delicious!

359: Summer Christmas

 

For all my northern hemisphere friends, here is a little taste of a summertime Christmas :-)

355: blackberry beginnings

Out clearing the jungle that is my 'back garden' this morning, I came across these blackberries- with their promise of treats to come in the late summer/ autumn. I cleared away the convolulus that was climbing all over it- and hopefully there will be a feast for the picking in March...

349: tui on flax

It is that happy time of year again, when I can watch the tui feeding on flax in my back garden. I am giving you three photos: none of them is a perfect shot, but the different angles show you more about the bird, in this case a juvenile.

346: weeds & seeds

Gardening is not my forte..... weeds have become seeds to become weeds..... I will be busy in the garden these hols, but it's too little too late...

342: peace in the courtyard

At the end of the school day, when the sun is shining, the courtyard outside some of our classrooms is a lovely peaceful spot to walk through...

337: Christmas in the Square

It's Christmas in the Square here in Palmy today. The Red Cross Fair was on this morning, and later on will be the Santa Parade and Carols. Then they will light up the tree for the season.

327: here comes the rain again...

Here comes the rain again..... November has been like that. Sigh. At least the wind doesn't seem to be quite as strong as it was a few days ago  -not yet anyhow...

326: another spiderweb

I used to think that I could only capture a photo of a spiderweb on a wet day when it was outlined with raindrops. But I have discovered recently that late in the day, when the sun's angle is low, spiderwebs hidden amongst the leaves of trees or shrubs might reflect back some of the sunlight that is falling on them...

325: garden ornament

reflection in a garden ornament

322: flax breakdown

section of one of the older leaves on the large flax bush in my backyard, breaking down

321: comfortable possie

I don't have a cat, so the neighbourhood cats make themselves at home in my backyard. They have even reached some kind of 'agreement' amongst themselves so that they can share it most of the time. They have an unerring sense of the most 'comfortable' place to be. Today there is a strong wind and the deck is not immune to it, so this cat has found itself a cosy place near trees that is completely sheltered. And he dozes on, cosy in his own ball of fluff...

320: washing line

This morning the rain was absolutely hosing down. This afternoon I arrived home to see a pond of water in the backyard, and the clothesline was reflected in it...

319: busy bumblebees

The bumblebees are all busy at present on this flowering bush in the garden.

315: spiderweb

I don't know enough about spiders to know what kind of spider makes this kind of web. But I do know I will feel guilty about destroying a whole well-developed ecosystem when I finally get around to tidying up my garden...

306: chooks

Two of the trio of school chooks, free-ranging in the garden. It wasn't one of these two that had an egg go kersplatt yesterday!

304: spiderweb in sunlight

I have taken photos of spiderwebs before, but usually outlined by raindrops. I was delighted to get this shot this afternoon, outlined by the sunlight.

More from the Secret Garden

Back in March I posted some photos from my sister's garden: she has little hidden treasures all around the place. I was there again today, and have a few more treasures, (or different angles on treasures), to show you... Enjoy!