SEEDHEADS

The common Asclepias here is known as the Swan Plant because of its seedheads.

Some of the larger ones do, in fact, look a lot like swans.

We were interested to see what the seedheads would be on the new orange Asclepias and it is completely different.

Funnily enough the seedhead of the Tweedia is similar to this.

I must have hit something on my camera to give me the dark edges to my photos.  Anyone got any suggestions.  I have a Canon Ixus.  Otherwise it looks quite good so can stay as it is.

BUTTERFLIES & BEES

We have been very pleased with the plants from the seeds we bought for the butterflies and bees. 

These are the Asclepias - a relation of the "swan plant" above but much more colourful and the Monarch butterflies seem to prefer it.  There are two on the plants below.

Both bees and butterflies like the Tithonia Goldfinger below.

 Photos taken in different light 

We have had two lovely days of rain and it is wonderful not to have to water every day.  The peaches are starting to ripen as well but they don't like the rain so it is good we have a few rain free days forecast.  Life is good.

NOT A SCAM

It is over eight years since Doug's first wife died.  This afternoon Doug received an email from our bank telling us that :

"In a recent review of our products and services, we identified that we charged a fee for a credit card jointly held by you and 'your late wife' after we were notified that she had passed away. This fee was charged incorrectly and we’re sorry that we made this error.

To correct this, we’ve already made a payment to your account  of $25.87, so there’s nothing you need to do. 

This payment is made up of $16.00 to reimburse you for the overpayment plus an additional amount of $9.87 to reflect that the money has not been available to you."

So, not only have they paid the amount they overcharged but added some extra to it.  

WAITANGI WEEKEND

It is a public holiday today and the weather is cooler.  Cloudy and, according to my phone, a pleasant 23° C.  

For the Parkinson walk we did The Loop starting at the Aquatic Centre then past the shops and back along Riverside Drive.

Gwynneth, this is for you - the Hundertwasser from the river.  I will try and get a photo from the other side.  It is not due to open until December so there must be a lot more work to do.

The area alongside the shops looks almost deserted when we started our walk although there were plenty of people along the way.

The gardens in front of the National Clock Museum always look good.

The playground has just been renewed.  Difficult to get a photo as from behind the swings all I would have got was a row of "backsides".

There were 14 of us today and three young children.  We planned the walk so that we could go to the Kafe with a "K" for our coffee.   It started off with  takeaway coffees but then added tables alongside the river and real  cups,  This is the large pohutakawa tree alongside the cafe.

and the view of the river.

I then wanted to go to Farmers Trading Company and the gardens were looking stunning.

SKINK HOUSES

A while ago, Doug made two "houses" for Bobby and Blue.  Bobby now sleeps indoors and Blue often sleeps on the two seat cane settee in the porch so Doug decided to turn them into houses for the many skinks we have here.

He put lengths of bamboo in one and old pieces of concrete in the other.  I hope they like them.

There are lots of skinks particularly in Kim's old run.  The skinks are far to quick for me to get a photo.

The orchard stall has not been at the market lately so we have been buying peaches, nectarines and pears at the supermarket.  They have all been good and we have just eaten a particularly sweet large nectarine between us.

PORK CHOPS ANYONE?

We watch the channel that runs one hour late so watch the news from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.  We were watching it tonight and it was nearly the end of the news when we heard Bobby come in making a "Look what I've got" noise.  On checking, he was proudly bringing us a raw pork chop.

Doug took it from him and put it in the deep freeze.  Bobby then went out again and not long after brought home a second pork chop.  Doug decided to let him go again and see where he went and he appears to have gone to the house two doors down where the other cat he feeds comes from.  Sure enough, a third pork chop was brought home.  He has never brought anything home before.

I insisted we lock him in and close the doors of "Kim's run" and he went out there and then lay happily for some time.  Doug decided a few minutes ago to let him out again and we have not seen him since.  He has been out for about 15 - 20 minutes and it is now nearly 10 p.m.  I hope we don't get any more pork chops.  The worry is that now he knows what he can find that he will keep going back there.  10 p.m. He has just returned with no more chops.

The funny thing is that if it is the house we think it seems odd that they leave meat out when they have a cat much more likely to steal food.

TODAY'S WALK

It is a Public Holiday today so everyone is out and about and with the recent Covid scare  we decided to walk on Beach Road, Onerahi and take our morning refreshments to have at a picnic table rather than go to a busy cafe.

The weather was perfect.  

Most of the walkers, two more turned up after the photo and one was taking the photo.

This is a view of some of the houses that look out across the harbour.

The airport is just above us and this was an Air New Zealand plane taking off, presumably headed to Auckland.

There were all manner of boats coming and going on this perfect day.

Doug took this photo of a Monarch butterfly on a solar light bottle he was given for Christmas.