Natural Beauty

I had to rescue this butterfly from the cat.  I wish she'd chase the white ones.  Easier to rescue than a bird though.

Can't take my eyes off you...

Not sure what this building is, but as I walk back to the car each day, I'm being watched!

The mural is on the back of a building that is on Tuam St, as this is taken from St Asaph St.

Perceptions...

Can be deceiving!  This very spindly looking crane looks like it's about to lift the top of that building away in one go.... this was at 5pm so I'll check it out tomorrow and see exactly what was connected to the cables!

Demolition is depressing, but it's intriguing too.

Jack Frost

Brr! 3 degrees this morning and you could see Jack Frost wending his way across Hagley Park in the rising sunshine as I drove to work.

A sign of mornings to come?

Autumn roads

You know it's autumn when the gutters start to fill up with leaves.  Autumn is my favourite season and I love the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Flat out!

It's been a warm 25 degree Saturday and I've lazed around the house with the cat with not much energy.  My beloved Tatie sums it up in this photo...

The look on her face is one of mild irritation of me pestering her, but can't be bothered doing anything about it!

Doors to Nowhere #3

Okay, I'll give the series a break for a few days, but these doors (one slightly ajar, still) go nowhere... but used to take me to my office in the Guthrey Centre.

Doors to Nowhere #2

Well, staircase to nowhere actually.  The stairs to where my car used to be parked on a daily basis - top of Lichfield St Carpark.  Sorry about the quality of the photo, taken on the iPod again as I left the camera at home by mistake... but at least I managed to take a photo today!  March hasn't been the most consistent month, sorry folks!

A study of a dying plant

I bought a peace lily at the Ellerslie Flower Show plant sell off and it was a bit light-damaged.  I think I'll have to give it some harsh treatment to get it to survive, but before I prune it to pieces, I took a couple of photos as I always think plants are quite interesting, close up, particularly in this state!

Doors to Nowhere #1

I'm thinking of starting a series on here of doors/roads etc to nowhere.  There are quite a few of them around town.  I liked the fact that there is a lamp post out on the street in front of it.  Taken on Colombo Street, between Tuam and St Asaph Streets.  

Afterglow

It's been a gorgeous day today, and as the sun set, I caught the glow on this tree in my street.  It captures the warmth of an autumn evening well, if I may say so.

A touch of the green

Yes it's St Patrick's Day.  I wonder if the touch of green on this building had a bit of irish luck rubbed on it - it's still standing, where others have gone!

Nothing like it...

There's nothing like a good cuppa.  Even if it's made with a teabag.

What's the name?

I went to the Ellerslie Flower Show plant sell off and bought a  couple of plants... but I don't know what this one is... can anyone help?  It might help me grow it, rather than kill it if you know!

All I know is it is frost hardy.

Shrinking Violet...

An updated photo of the HGC from Colombo St, near the Tuam Cnr.  I have had some fun at Xmas Do's on the 14th floor - I don't know if there are even 14 floors left now.

Broken Piano

Today I ventured to Lyttelton for a walkabout.  In one of the empty lots it there is a broken piano.

It might look a bit of a sad sight, but, actually, the empty lot has been filled with random flower seeds and has a cottage feel to it, and the windows of the building have been left standing.  It's actually a corner with quite a bit of colour.  Not sure about the stone tuatara (?)!

In the heart of Christchurch....

Hagley Park is in the centre of Christchurch and is its temporary heart without a CBD.  It is currently the host of the Ellerslie Flower Show - a show that divided Christchurch when the rights were purchased. But I LOVE IT.  It was a lovely vibe today, despite the cold, grey day.  I took lots of photos of the show, but I liked this one, as a summary.  A garden, with a heart in it.

Friday food

A long week and it's Friday night.  I try not to resort to takeaways too often, but with a half bottle of red left to drink, pizza seemed the best way to go.

Elly, the Elephant...

I couldn't resist adding to the animal photos a couple of nights ago.  The elephant has got to be my favourite.  It's like she's* sneaking through the trees, trying to hide!  My favourite one in Re:Start Cashel Mall.

*yes, I've decided it's a she, although I didn't check the anatomy that closely!!

Things to love about Chch #3

The gardens!

Well, it is the garden city, and it is Ellerslie Flower Show Week... so why not celebrate the gardens.  This picture is taken from the bridge at the Riverside of the hospital looking over towards the Botanic Gardens (and Curator's House). A lovely evening for a walk along the river!

Weird and wonderful...

An Ellerslie / Festival of Flowers promo I guess, but these strange animals popped up in Cashel Mall sometime between me going to work and leaving... there's an elephant further down the street under a tree, too!

Kinda cool, I thought!

Dunners!

Back on the road to come home yesterday, but I had to take a quick photo of my other hometown!  I lived in Dunedin for 13 years, and I do have a soft spot for it.  Even in the wet, cold weather.  This is taken from Pine Hill.

2nd March - Road Trip

I had a quick trip down to Dunedin this weekend, so have been away from my computer.  But I did take a photo on the way down on Friday.

Night Gardening

Whoops, this is where I can see winter is going to be a challenge, because I left it a bit late tonight... so here's a night time shot of my purple basil.  It kind of looks cool in this light, even if it is going to seed!