Winter Wonders

Winter is in full flow here in New Zealand. I wake up to a frosty reception most early mornings, the kind of frosts that are crisp and fresh with a nice crunch under the foot. We have increasingly cool nights.The past few weeks, the nights have been incredibly still and clear.The day progresses to clear blue skies, light cloud or no cloud, with low warm sunshine.

The garden at this time is beautiful, serene and still, especially in the very early morning. The sun is very low and likes to peep between the Redwoods.

Winter is also the time for Camellias and magnificent Magnolias which there are plenty. I can’t determine whether the Magnolia located in the top left corner of the garden is ‘Burgandy Star’, ‘Felix Jury’, or ‘Vulcan’. Whichever one it is, it is stunning. The blooms are large, goblet shaped, not so much fragrant, but they’re opulent, a deep magenta leaning to claret red. It’s a young tree, nice and compact, upright, and it never fails blooming with a mass of flowers from August  through to Spring. The Camellias just keep on giving; pinks, reds, whites, and there are about 5 maybe more varieties in the garden, main variety being the early flowering sasanquas. They’re well established, mature  and elegant and the bees love them.