Paint the town

Riverton's been given the once-over-brightly by a group of funky, invited young artists who have given their all to make our village beautiful - and they've succeeded in doing just that! There's still a day to go, but already, were' looking picturesque in ways we never expected to. Here's a sample of their wonderful works.

Flowerheads - flax (nga korari harakeke)

They're particularly robust this year - more angular, bolder,  gruntier! I wonder why?

Goodness, I've been negligent! So few posts lately and all because I've been...busy, but I'm guessing, so have you! My garden is in "boom" mode and has been for a few weeks now, and most of my "work" has involved mulching down overly exuberant plants, such as wild chervil and alexanders. While those are taking some managing, they produce and abundance of "blanketing" for everything else and ensure the carbon content of my soil continues to grow significantly. here are a few views of my forest garden as it looks right now - healthy, green, vibrant and fruitful - what could be better!

Springing

Chilean rhubarb, red currants, cherry blossom, Rokewood apple, Moses-in-a-basket.

Yellow flowers

I needed a shot with a background of yellow flowers for and article on...yellow flowers. This one was too squinty.

Last night's fire - magic!

The atmosphere in the garden now...

...is delightful.

Me & my spade

Blazingly foggy start to the day

If you're up with the sun...

...you see the first silhouettes of the day.

On the way to Arrowtown

The remnants of last-season's apples on a roadside wilding.

Out now! Japonica blossom.

Manuka tracery

Windows

My car windscreen looks like this; how does yours look?

I roto koawa

Back to the valley I went, after 14 years absence; I knew I was getting close when I saw this:

As the mauka tapu hove into view, I was reminded of its many, many kanohi:

Then into the valley itself and a delightful feeling of familiarity.

Big, colourful haws

This year, I've Chinese and Mexican hawthorn fruits; haws that is, plump, yellow and red.

Smokin'

It's the time of the year for burning prunings from the apple trees.

Leaden sky

A neighbour's house against a foreboding sky.

All aboard!

Similarities

Pot plant and chair

Bear reads "Wild" by Emily Hughes

Leaf prints

Kawakawa

A very kind plantsman from the far north sent me two boxes filled with katakana plants to go with this single specimen I planted here 3 years ago. I'm keeping them in the warmth till springtime as they don't liked to be chilled and will perish if I'm not careful.

Pou