Whangarei - City of Colour Letterbox

With the new theme of Whangarei, City of Colour and the Hundertwasser building going ahead many people are painting their letterboxes  - this was Doug's letterbox.

and now here it is in all its glory.  He has had many comments with the suggestion that he should now paint all the other boxes in his street!!!

A while ago a co-operative Art Gallery at the Town Basin painted several bollards in bright coloiurs only to be told to paint them black again after complaints.  I was talking to the Mayor the other day and suggested that all the bollards in the City should be painted bright colours and a competition held for people to paint one or more.  She thought it a great idea so we shall see if anything comes of it.

Gleditsia

I have always liked the gleditsia in my garden (well in spring and summer anyway).  Unfortunately, it had got too large for my 1/4 acre section and so, on Saturday, I had it cut down.

Luckily, I was talking to one of the gentlemen who has P.D. and goes on the Parkinson's walk  and he recommended a man who goes by the name of "Monkey Power"  He was wonderful.  Below are just a few of the photos I took.

This Australian Frangipani was huge and, occasionally, dropped large limbs so it came down as  well

The base of the gleditsia is just over 760mm diameter.

 This poor apple tree has been trying to get some sun

AUTUMN

 We have been having some wonderful weather - some rain but it was needed.  these photos were taken a week or so ago.

The large tree in my garden has just about lost all its very small leaves now.  They get everywhere and even travel several kilometres to Doug's house.

A shaded part of my garden that gets neglected - not sure of the name of the yellow flower - I also have the red and pink.

This Luculia is just below the camelia above , the perfume is devine.

Autumn colours when walking Sophie in the park

Back to my garden - the tropical frangipane is still flowering.

They have been having snow storms in the South Island and it is 9 degrees C in my porch right now.  Off to walk Sophie (Doug's labrador) on a friend's property shortly.  Will need lots of layers!!

Whangarei - Colour our City parade

On Saturday Doug and I took part in the first Colour our City Parade.  This was organised by a group who are behind the proposal to convert an uninteresting building at the Town Basin into a Hundertwasser Inspired design.  There is a a lot of controversy and a referendum is being held shortly.  The building is a council owned one.

I am having trouble with the photos but it shows the colour.  Doug and I purchased the wigs halfway along the parade at a variety store.

Parkinson Walk - A.H. Reed Park to the Whangarei Falls.

 Last Monday we had torrential rain for our Parkinson's Walk but today the sun shone and the temperature was pleasant.

 The Falls from the other side of the bridge.

Some of the group who decided not to do the extra walk up the hill and over the falls.

A fascinating toadstool growing out of a ponga.

and taken from the other side it looks more like a lightbulb

THE END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER.

We have had a wonderful summer and autumn but on Monday everything changed with extremely early snow storms in the south.  The temperature dropped rapidly here.  We haven't had much rain and there has been plenty of sunshine but the wind feels like ice.  I have even been lighting the pot belly stove.

I took these two photos last week.  My Tropical Frangipane is very happy against the garage wall.  The red geranium was more upright than I expected but looks good in its hanging basket.

The wind is set to turn to north west tomorrow so things should warm up.

Just as I posted this a cold heavy shower has come through.

MT. PARIHAKA DESCENT.

continued......................We had planned to take the Drummond track but decided to go right and take the Dobbie and Hokianga tracks for our descent.

The foliage is slightly different on this side.

                                More steps and ponga trees.

                                 


On the side of the track this would have been a very large tree.  Any trees that fall or are felled are left to feed the young seedlings as they appear.

Down at Mair Park

People feeding the ducks and others fishing.

It is good that they put the track around trees.

The track then leaves the park and the native trees give way to poplars and other exotics.  From there it was along Vale Road, down steps to Ewing Road and then along the boardwalk back to the Aquatic Centre and our car.  Two hours.  The weather was perfect for walking, not too hot. (On the news that night it said 25 degrees C.)