STILL LAGGING SOMEWHAT...

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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 garden, then the bird bath...I guess I'd better refill it or the cheeky beggars might come indoors to use our facilities!

And while we're still talking colourful flowers, I was smitten with some eye-popping Leptospermum "Red Falls" when we spent some time wandering in the Botanic Gardens a few weeks ago.
https://www.theplantcompany.co.nz/shop/product/shrubs/leptospermum-red-falls

 Most New Zealanders know the plant as manuka or "tea-tree" and some of you who like honey and have money probably know it's a major honey source for birds and bees. Before the fairly recent breeding of brighter colours, manuka flowers were white, sometimes pinkish. 
Did I hear someone say "more, please."?

It's a little too early for Kowhai, but Spring is not far away...  









 




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