Ordered gardens

I have been meaning to put up some photos from the garden club trip I went on recently. After reading some other blogs, I decided that it could be nice to try to theme them - I call this set "lines", or maybe it should just be "order"

Top photo: taken with my back to the sea, looking at the fabulous Kaikouras.
Centre (L to R): rhubarb growing in a row of old tyres; coloured lettuces at a commercial grower
Bottom (L to R): lavendar farm; low hedge with rock border

There were many, many wonderful ideas and the weather was fantastic. Amazingly, all the gardeners we visited said that frosts were hardly ever an issue but the salt laden wind was, of course. I had set out with high hopes of getting ideas for an hedge but didn't see many at all. Most gardens we visited had extensively used rocks - they must be much more readily available than down my way.

I'll endeavour to get more photos up soon.

'varsity break

I can always tell when its study time between the end of the University year and before exams start: you see students everywhere doing everything but study. Just now as I was making myself a cup of coffee, I looked up and saw a gaggle of students setting out to rock climb. Its the perfect day for it - no wind and clear, sunny skies heading towards a nor'wester so you can hardly blame them for finding something to do outside rather than work. It brought back very strong memories of my studying. One year I learnt to juggle, which is a very useful skill when you have a gaggle of young niece and nephews!

Seen living dangerously

Dashing back from buying morning tea things for the course, I had to take evasive action as the most magnificent peacock sauntered across the road. He gleamed in the sunshine with his blues so blue and his greens so green. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me as I would have had plenty of time to take the photo. I wonder if I'll meet him again?

I love getting parcels

How great is it to receive parcels? Even getting work parcels can be fun when the sender has had fun with them!

I'm pleasantly tired

The garden club trip was great - lots of lovely gardens and great company. So much to see and take in. Will post photos in due course. At the moment I'm tired. Not exhausted, just tired and it would be a great feeling except that I'm at work and struggling to get anything done. All I can hear is a little kingfisher sitting on a wire calling for a mate and he appears to be unsuccessful which makes me sad. But I think that's just the tiredness talking.

Weekend plans

This weekend is going to be full of adventures. Tonight I've got my oldest nephew's 4th birthday straight after work. Birthdays are great fun no matter what age you are but for a four year old I think the excitement is almost unbearable.

Tomorrow I head off on a bus for a garden tour over two days at Kaikoura with my mother's garden club. Two years ago we went to Akaroa for the weekend and it was excellent. The photo is of the pile of name tags I've just made for everyone as we're coming from all over the place. I'm really looking forward to it. As well as my mother being on it, an old primary school friend will be there as well so I'm hoping for lots of opportunities to catch up. Judging by the last trip, the noise volume will be huge because there's a bus load of woman who've escaped their familial responsibilities for two days!

Another reason for looking forward to the trip is that I'm wanting to rip out some shrubs that have turned into trees and plant a hedge. At the moment I'm not sure what to use so I'm hoping for inspiration. I'm taking a notebook (Moleskine) and my camera so I'm all prepared. Having written that I now feel a bit geeky but I don't care.

More spring

You can tell its spring here because there are a LOT of bunnies around and they must have been reproducing because there are small ones as well. The other day at morning tea, we looked out and counted 10 and that was without even trying. Another day we saw a hawk hovering and swooping and diving in the grass on the hill. He must have been after bunnies but he disappeared into the long grass so we couldn't see what he ended up with.

Spring sprung a while ago

I took this photo almost exactly one month ago when we were having fantastic spring weather. This white cherry blossom tree is very old and my absolute favourite. I have no idea what it is called and I've never seen another one. If anyone recognises it, could you please let me know.

Since this photo was taken, we've had extremely changeable weather but almost always cold & windy. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather again.

Womans Expo

Manning the stand, or should that be, womanning the stand, was more fun than I expected. I should have realised that I would enjoy standing around for 4 hours talking to anybody that hove into view. Trade Shows are weird though. If you're not talking to anyone walking past, then no-one wants to stop, but as soon as you manage to collar someone, then a log jam occurs as everyone stops to see what's happening & eavesdrop.

Apparently they had over 3000 (mostly) woman through the show over the 2 days but the only advertising for the show I saw was one advert on TV. How did everyone find out about it? It was interesting to walk around and look at everything but I was glad I hadn't paid to get in. Even though I enjoyed myself, I was grateful I only had to do 4 hours and I don't think I'll do it again.

Last minute lassie

I'm now in a bit of panic/funk about spending time helping to man a table at the Womens Expo (or should that be womin - I'll let you know after the weekend). It was suggested I should bring brochures or something to hand out but I've only got business cards. I'm printing more of those as we speak but don't have any form of brochure, let alone a website that people could look at. Man, who would work for themselves and especially for such an inefficient boss? Thinking about maybe printing some magnets & a t-shirt to wear, but I'd have to go & buy the t-shirt. All this takes effort and organisation and I'd much rather just sloth around the office and then have a relaxing weekend.

Calmer

Everything is calmer today, including me. The sun is out, people are out walking and there are no drips in my office. The wind must have been strong because the local attraction sign, that had (note the past tense) two sturdy posts, was snapped off and lying on the ground when we went home. But the wind was local because my tulips are still standing and they're always the first to suffer in a blow.

Gale force winds

Incredibly windy today. As I look out my work window I'm amazed that more trees don't lose branches or break off entirely. How can they be so strong but flexible? I'm always impressed when cutting hedges, at how heavy the branches can be when they're cut down but when they're attached to the tree they look light and graceful.

This is all to take my mind off the sound of drips into buckets. At the moment I have 6 buckets. Hopefully I won't need any more.

Seen

Very large alsation squashed into the back seat of a very small orange mini. He completely filled it!

Frustration

I know I'm just new at this but its incredibly frustrating to spend time writing a post and then, through stupidity, delete it. I don't want to have to start again but I'm going to have to. I've worked with computers long enough to know that one shoud SAVE at every opportunity, otherwise you lose those pearls of wisdom that when you recreate them, they just sound forced. Stupid, stupid, stupid.