We’re 11 days into Spring and it’s been a mixed bag so far. The nights are still quite cold with lows in the high 30’s and daily highs have been in the low 60’s. The sun feels quite hot when you’re in it (or maybe I’m just becoming accustomed to the cold). By far, it’s my favorite time of year here. It means I can plant flowers and my veggie garden starts to show signs of life again!
Some of the first lambs appeared on a friend’s vineyard so I took the opportunity to go see them. They always run if you get too close. I heard a mother snort at her baby when I got near and it stood up and bolted by her side. No cuddling possible, unfortunately. Their thick, saggy coats allow for fast expansion as these lambs grow quickly over the course of the next couple of months.
Folks here use the sheep to “mow” the grass and they do a great job! It’s also a wonderful way to get free fertilizer for the vines. They have to shift them to different paddocks because they run out of grass to eat pretty quickly.
I’ve found a TON of mantis egg sacks all around the property and keeping a close eye on them. There were some early hatchlings, which I know know were not new emerges because I found a SUPER tiny one yesterday…only about a millimeter long. I plan on bringing in an ootheca (egg sack) and trying to ‘incubate’ it so I can watch the babies. I’ll have to free them soon thereafter though so they don’t starve or eat each other!
We went to my favorite park, which always seems to change. This time there were huge camellia trees which I had never noticed before (not even sure how that was possible) and the roses had all been cut back.
The weeping willows were starting to bud.
Here are some photos of flowers on this magnolia tree showing a few stages of blooming. It needs that furry coat to keep warm during the frosty nights!
The flowers were all smiling up at the sun!
I had to say hi to my favorite huge tree.
The acorns are gigantic, I almost thought they were peanuts!
These odd looking flowers look very different from anything I’ve seen in the U.S.
The golf course was looking immaculate as always.
As we approached the gazebo, all of the ducks and seagulls were enjoying being fed or simply hanging out in the nice weather. The duck was floating close to his girlfriend and the sun caught his colorful emerald green head perfectly! The water is so clear you can’t even tell it’s there!
Kudos to the folks who keep this park looking so beautiful! I always look forward to going there. Hopefully the nice weather will get us out more and I’ll be able to blog a little more often!
These photos portray spring in New Zealand beautifully.
Thanks, Debbie!! That’s a nice compliment 😉
So many flowers! Meanwhile, on the other side of the hemisphere it’s all sweet peppers, roses, and figs. Lawns are still green in NC because it’s been a wet year, and temps in the mid-80’s to low 70’s.
What a gorgeous park, such sweet lambs, and beautiful spring flowers! Thanks for such a delightful piece of writing to welcome spring. It made me feel like I was there. As the leaves fall here and the temps cool down, spring seems very far away.
That’s one huuuuuge tree. Great photos. Dad
Gorgeous. Breathlessly beautifully, love the lamby-kins! Disgustingly hot and unusually humid here. As usual.
Yeah, I suppose at this point I’d rather have my weather than yours! Sorry, sista!!