Residents in Aotearoa: The Wintergarden

Saturday, 9 September 2023

The Wintergarden

Today Jeanne and I went to the Wintergarden in Auckland Domain. It's near the museum. Join us in admiring some interesting flowers and plants.

It may be spring here in New Zealand, but it sure looks winter-dreary, doesn't it?

Now, that's different.

This is a new one to me. It's a 'fingered citron,' or 'Buddha's fingers.' I did a little reading and found that this fruit is ripe when it turns yellow. It is edible and apparently is used like lemon peel, shaving off the zest. The whole thing can also be candied.

Here and there throughout the building were artichokes.

We didn't stay long. A cup of coffee on the terrace fueled us for the return walk to the Grafton Train Station.

A blue sky and sun would transform this picture.

As we relaxed over our coffee, these two came by, briefly.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few colorful shots. -djf

5 comments:

Dianne10 September 2023 at 13:10
Wintergarden with its gorgeous flowers and specialized greenhouses has given me many wonderful memories! There are so many unique - and also familiar - blooms. Wouldn't it be cool if the Buddha's fingers and the artichokes are actually harvested and used in the cuisine offered in that little restaurant? Jeanne and I also enjoyed refreshments there 4 1/2 years ago after seeing the Mauri haka performance at the museum.

Love it! As always, thanks for sharing and sparking up my memories!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Anonymous10 September 2023 at 17:27
Fred and I loved the Budda's fingers. These flowers are gorgeous. McKenzie
ReplyDelete
Replies
Anonymous11 September 2023 at 17:12
I have no idea why our laptop on the trip would work but our computer at home will not for publishing comments. McKenzie
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

My deer blind, a place outside of time and space.

This is a picture of my deer hunting blind. I built in in 1975 and used it until about 2010. I'm publishing this picture and text on November 15 of 2022, the opening day of Michigan's rifle deer hunting season, to remember all the years I spent sitting there and occasionally harvesting a deer. I think that the meat I provided for my family was only a small portion of the benefit I received from hunting in this manner. Of greater value to me was the time I spent alone, watching the forest and its many components interact. I had time to unwind from the stresses of my work, to appreciate our world, and even sometimes to pray. That blind was a refuge to me. It was cozy, and comfortable and I spent much more time filming the activities of not only deer, but bears, racoons, turkeys, squirrels, hawks, and once, even a snowy owl, than I did harvesting deer. May I suggest to all of you that you try to find some time and a place, where you can be alone, and where you can ponder and appreciate your life and your place in the world. It does a body good. -djf