1 October 2016. SPRING! Best time of the year, in my opinion.
In between the showers of rain, there are great moments to be had out here and in the Bethells Valley. 9 years ago, as the Unit was being built, I planted a clematis seedling off the rear deck, and tied it, as it grew taller and taller, onto the kauri tree. Well i did know that kauri trees don’t like things growing on them (they are epiphyte intolerant), and it kept throwing the clematis off! Luckily the five finer and coprosma next to the kauri didn’t mind…the result, it is now flowering for the first time ever! HOORAY!
Plus all 3 of my clematis babies on the driveway are also in full bloom. I can look our across the valley from my tale and see spots of white clematis and the yellow of the kowhai trees, also madly blooming. The kereru have decimated our 2 young kowhai in our mitigation planting area (never pays to be early flowerers), but luckily all the others are now out too.
The Tui birds are also very feisty as they spar and compete for good partners. Lots of activity out here and only 1 free weekend in the whole of October which is the last month to use out “stay 3 nights for the price of 2” policy for the off peak season.