I haven't been to the Wintergarden in years....

On the grounds of the Auckland Domain and near the War Memorial Museum, is the Wintergarden. The last time I was here, Allie had driven us all into the city and we enjoyed it together. Today, I'm taking pictures so I can share it with you. 

I'm entering one of the greenhouses from a back corner. Toward the end of this post, we'll step out of this building and you'll see the central court and the other greenhouse. 

 That's our way in.

 Ooohhh. It nice in here today. It's not too hot, and it just feels good. I wonder if the oxygen level in such a greenhouse is slightly higher than outside.  I just think it feels invigorating in here. 

 At this time of year, the staff likes to do some vegetables along with the flowers. Naturally, the veggies are spectacular. Look at those peppers. 

 And here is a yellow variety. 

 Even eggplants!

Easter egg peppers

This is the courtyard with its statues and fountains. Across it is the tropical building.  We'll take a look in it soon. 

I think I'll finish this post with a look at some of the statuary.  

There are two difference stories about why the cat is  up there. If the second one is true, I'd say the cats and birds aren't doing well together yet, because that cat has poop running down it. Here's the article I read.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11476696

To bad that cat and those birds can't take a lesson from this cat and birds that I saw recently  in a yard as I walked near our Sturges Road train station.

That cat is not trying to sneak up on the birds. His front feet are planted and it's just looking, seeming to me to be only half awake. 

I hope you enjoyed today's pictures.  More to come from the Wintergarden next time.   -djf

From Parnell through the Auckland Domain

I'll be a man of 'relatively' few words with this post. I'll just tell you about it and then let you look at the pictures. They're mostly of trees. 

I took the train to Parnell and then walked up through the forest that lies between it and the Auckland Domain. That's where the War Memorial Museum and the Wintergarden are. The Domain is a really big park. 

This first picture is the tunnel leading to the walk up to Parnell. The second 'tunnel' is one of  much nicer sort. It's the one I took.   

You'll note that it was a perfect day for this walk. (and pre-COVID-19)  

In later posts, I'll show you the Wintergarden and some shots along my walk to the Grafton Train Station for the ride home.  

What a ligneous life-form huh? 

I think to call this just a tree is almost an insult. Standing this close to it, I wouldn't want to make it mad.  

I think these two are the antithesis of the ligneous life form. They ought to be called 

t

r

e

e

s

though. 

I hope you enjoyed it.  Next stop, the Wintergarden.                        -djf

No theme today, just some pictures

As I wander, I constantly take pictures. Most of them end up in posts telling some sort of story. 

But not all of them fit a story. Or maybe they fit a story, but a very short one. These first two photos show you why the area we live in is called the Western Heights. 

 I guess it's obvious that I'm standing in the middle of the road for these two, Sturges Road specifically, and facing either toward the city or the Waitakeres.  

I just like the color of whatever this is.  

They spell 'whiskey' wrong here, but I have to admit that they know how to make it.  Allie bought me this very special bottle. 

It was originally produced by the southern-most distillery in the world, in Dunedin. However, when that company closed down production, a number of barrels, instead of being bottled, were stored away.  Years later, these barrels, which had originally held American bourbon,  were acquired by The New Zealand Whisky Company who moved them to a new location and transferred the whisky in them to French red wine barrels for further aging.  This whisky has been maturing for 16 years and it tastes like it. It is so smooth and gentle on the tongue, with a sweet aftertaste. I only enjoy a little on special occasions. On top of everything else it has going for it, this whisky comes in a specially made bottle, with 'New Zealand Whisky' in raised letters on the glass. They named it Doublewood because it was aged in two kinds of barrels. 

Lemons in a front yard

A very young Butia capitata in our front yard. 

Dusk across our neighborhood 

This is no Thomas Kinkade painting, but it reminds me of how that artist would use light to suggest a peaceful setting.    

 A trio of Norfolk Island Pines in a park on Swanson Road

 Hey, it's a hollyhock. I haven't seen one of these for years. I remember seeing them as a kid growing up in Castile Location.  

 A brand new bench has been installed where the old one once stood. Arram and Amiri saved the old one when kids (I'm assuming) set fire to it one night. (It was the same style as this one.)  They had apparently poured lighter fluid into the ageing and hollowed out top of the main support post and lit it. It smoldered all night and the next morning, when Allie and the boys walked by Gus Ward Park, Arram saw smoke rising from it. They dashed home, filled a couple of bottles with water, and returned. Amiri doused the flames while Arram stood by with the second bottle.  

Allie called the city offices to let them know that they might want to check the bench later on, and the administrative wheels started turning. A short time later, the boys received a commendation from the Fire Department, some gifts and their picture with the story in the newspaper. You want to talk about proud?  

I really like this picture. This is located just a few blocks from our house. Even with a grey sky behind it, the various components make up  such a pleasing whole.  The tree itself almost looks like a bonzai to me. 

I'll close this little photo album of mine. I hope you enjoyed looking at it.     -djf

Enjoy a quiet hour.

(Pre-Covid) 


This is the sign that greets shoppers at our Henderson Mall Countdown Supermarket on Wednesdays.  

Countdown's explanation of the practice is this. They realize that some people may have difficulty in coping with the bright lights, loud noises and high energy that are often a part of grocery shopping in modern supermarkets.  They wanted to do something to give those people a more positive shopping experience. They felt that by reducing the intensity of the lighting and minimizing the sound levels encountered within the market, they could allow the shoppers to feel less intimidated. They would feel welcomed and comfortable as they shopped.  

Check out Countdown's video.  

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12279576

I decided that I'd do a bit of shopping myself this past Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. so that I could report to you on the experience.   

 They turned off about half the lights, but as you can see if you compare the upper picture of the produce department with the lower, the change is not huge. 

 I could tell the difference when I walked through it however. The intensity was gone. 

 This corner of frozen foods almost felt cozy.

 Overall, the store did feel as though it was on a break. 

The beepers on the auto check out machines seemed subdued, but I had no way of measuring the change.  

I applaude Countdown's efforts to ease the pressures of modern life, even for just an hour each week.  

I did notice that a lot of high school kids were just out of class apparently and congregated outside the store. They, by nature, are boisterous. And 'girlsterous'.  Anyone hoping to shop in peace and quiet today at 2:45 would have had to first run the gauntlet of a group of teens exhibiting their version of Brownian Motion.**

** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion                                                -djf