STILL LAGGING SOMEWHAT...
But I'll begin with some colour... I'm seeing this glorious hot pink/cerise colour whenever I go out. Of course, at 70kms an hour I can't be sure of identifying it! But I've looked at lots of images and am now pretty sure it's Prunus Campanulata. It gets a bit tricky after that, as I've read that this beautiful tree, much-loved by our native nectivores, is banned in Northland (the province north of Auckland) on account of its prolific seeding habit. But what I'm seeing may be the permitted variety "Superba." It's common name is Taiwanese Cherry and it's one of the earliest to bloom and boy! does it go all-out! Will I plant one in my new garden? You betcha! But we might have to eat stale crusts for a week or two! Oh! Maybe not...we have carrots, fresh from a farmers' market...I found a ruler, marked in the pre-metric days. 9" I'll just leave that there...(Down! boys) The blackbirds have been having a high old time in the vege...