Magnolias
Did anybody say spring?
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August 15, 2014
August 8, 2014
Chinaberries
Chinaberry Tree (Melia Azedarach)
I found this fine example of a Chinaberry Tree (Melia Azedarach) in San Marino Drive, Henderson. Also known as White Cedar, Persian Lilac and Umbrella tree. The fruits are poisonous to humans, and it appears that they are not too popular with birds either.
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June 13, 2014
May 30, 2014
Self Portrait with Te Komoki
Manukau Heads and Te Komoki
The view from the Huia Point platform, with Manukau Heads and lighthouse on the left, Manukau bar, and the conical Te Komoki on the right.
See my growing collection of selfies.
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May 23, 2014
Oystercatchers
Oystercatchers
Last Tuesday afternoon near full tide. A good sized flock of oystercatchers were roosting on the sandbank by Titirangi Beach. Suddenly, on no apparent signal, they lifted off, flying out into Paturoa Bay, turning a few circles, and settling down again. Beautiful.
As the tide came further in, their patch of sand got smaller and smaller, and the march to the shore began.
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Oystercatchers
Oystercatchers
Oystercatchers
May 16, 2014
Quiet Morning
Quiet Morning at Wood Bay
The Manukau Harbour lies ever so smooth, reflecting the billowing clouds above. Mangere Mountain in the centre.
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March 28, 2014
Two Giraffes
Two Giraffes
At the Gibbs Farm. One of the giraffes is a live specimen (one of three that I saw), the other is a corrugated iron sculpture by Jeff Thomson (6x3x1 m). The picture below is of the real thing.
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Giraffe
March 21, 2014
Horizons (Neil Dawson, 1994)
Horizons (Neil Dawson, 1994)
We had the good fortune (thanks a million, Stephen!) to be able to visit the Gibbs Farm yesterday. A huge property of undulating land on the Kaipara Harbour, containing a good number of sculptural works whose size matches the size of the grounds. This sculpture by Neil Dawson is entitled “Horizons” and measures 15 x 10 x 36m. Welded and painted steel. It shows the ubiquitous corrugated iron as if having floated down from the sky.
“Dawson’s is one of the few works that can be seen from the road, which is fitting for its trompe l’oeil suggestion of a giant piece of corrugated iron blown in from a collapsed water tank on some distant farm.” (From the Gibbs Farm brochure.)
Check out the sculpture on the satellite view of Google Maps; when you zoom out, you will note a few more of the sculptures (Anish Kapoor‘s “Dismemberment” is the red one, 85m long).
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Horizons (Neil Dawson, 1994)
Horizons (Neil Dawson, 1994)
Gibbs Farm
March 7, 2014
February 28, 2014
Fluffy
Himalayan Fairy Grass
The older, less maintained parts of the Waikumete Cemetery are covered with this grass: Himalayan Fairy Grass (miscanthus nepalensis). Like many pretty things, it’s classed as a weed (invasive, clumping).
Here the fluff in the sky competes with the fluff on the ground.
More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!