Winter light shone through the tree - just before a storm hit

I took this photo on Saturday just before the hail storm hit – it is the old Art Gallery that is in the Botanic Gardens.

Today the weather has been miserable with lots of wind and rain but no snow. I’ve not ventured out as it took 40 minutes for my partner to get the car out of the steep driveway we have. I didn’t fancy negotiating it myself (had visions of skidding down the bank and into the house!).

The birds finally discovered the bird feeder, so this is now visited by sparrows and the wax eyes get the fruit or the sugar water. I was reading about 3 fantails that made themselves at home in a house in Canterbury and learned that many small birds may not have made it through the winter blast we’ve had. So I’ve been doing my bit for the bird life in our area (as have my neighbours). It will be interested to see what happens in Spring and if they bring their babies to the feeder. Yes, I’ve become a little bird obsessed!

Christchurch blooms in Spring

Spring is just around the corner, and Christchurch does Spring very well indeed. The blossoms are always so beautiful, and after the year we have had I think we will all appreciate it just that big more, at least I know I will.

Winter isn’t finished with us yet though… apparently according to the forecasters there is a cold snap on its way this weekend and we could get snow (maybe even as a big a dump as 2 weeks ago).

We lost power, but Orion came to our Rescue

Snow was predicted for today. Rather than being excited by this prospect (we don’t get snow often in Christchurch) it filled me with a sense of the inevitable – that we would lose power. And sure enough at about 8.15am on what would have to be the coldest day of the year so far the power went out. But thanks to Orion’s quick actions we had power back just after 9am (a full hour earlier than anticipated). Once we had power back on decided I could get excited now about the snow, so we ventured out for a short walk – not very far as the snow is interspersed with hail and sleet and rain.

Chris from Orion, flicking the switch to put the power back on

Castle Rock in the background with lots of snow

Looking down on the Heatchote River and Ferrymead

Braving the cold on a bike - hope he watched out for the deep crevices around that track!

Ferrymead Park - looking like a winter wonderland!

It’s a little early for Spring – we’re only half way through winter, but seeing these cheerful flowers (of the Narcissus family I do believe) makes me feel that Spring won’t be far off. We have been having lovely fine weather in Christchurch – very sunny and mild – not great for winter loving skiers, but good for the rest of us!

Snapped today from the Cambridge Terrace side of the river not far from Fitzgerald Avenue. The willow still has some leaves (just), probably due to the mild May weather we experienced. The first week of June is proving to be lovely as well – though I’m not sure it’s going to last as Friday’s weather forecast looks bad. It won’t be long before there are no leaves on any of the deciduous trees and their will be snow visible on the Southern Alps. I once heard that the willows around Hagley Park are just 6 weeks without leaves. I’m already looking forward to Spring in Christchurch – and winter hasn’t really even started!

Santa was at the Arts Centre today, and it appears he was handing out Cadbury Favourite chocolates (nom nom nom). Poor Santa, it was quite warm today and there he is in that big old beard and hat. I’ve never experienced Christmas in winter – always summer, and it didn’t seem odd to me as a child, but as an adult I find it quite weird that we cling to all of these Northern Hemisphere traditions as they often don’t make sense. For instance, it’s often not dark now until 9.3opm or 10.pm even – so putting Christmas lights on before then just seems pointless! I’d love to experience a white Christmas – it’s definitely on my ‘bucket list’.

After a long wet winter we are ready for Spring! It is officially Spring in 7 days, and I am quite relieved by this fact, Winter has been very dull indeed. To herald the new season the Hagley Park Daffodils are bursting forward in their wonderful yellowy displays – these daffodils were snapped in the Park yesterday. Oh what joy!

The mountains have snow on them, so it must be winter!  Have taken a break from photographing as it’s been so wet and miserable!

I had no idea the Opawa community garden existed until just very recently.  Today was my first visit there.  Basically you can help yourself to vegetables so long as you leave a donation or go and volunteer in the garden on Saturdays. I may just end up helping in the garden at some point as I like gardening and eating!

This was snapped with my camera phone late afternoon – so it’s a bit fuzzy.  The days are getting a lot shorter now, and it’s dark by 5.30pm, it will soon be winter (brrrr!).

I zoomed right in on the morning sky and noticed a little bird in the tree which I think makes the photo. The sun is only coming up now around 8am! Yes, it’s winter and we just had our shortest day.