Tag: new zealand

Outside Garden

| January 21, 2013

I can’t stop Imogen from venturing into the garden and I don’t want to, although she would be out at all hours if she had the chance and was allowed to stay up throughout the night.

It’s absolutely wonderful she has green fingers at such a young age. Hubby and I are keen nature lovers and Imogen’s been watching. She’s heard us talk about birds, flowers, fauna, insects and wildlife since she was a tiny baby and we had our first family holiday in Orford.

Outside Garden

Outside Garden

Every morning as soon as she wakes we look outside and assess the weather with Imogen giving me the lowdown. Windy trees, misty, sun, rain or fuffa for cloudy. And then it’s shouts of Outside Garden. This is what Imogen’s named my parent’s garden in New Zealand. It’s not an inside garden is it?

I love being outside and in the garden. My dreams are to landscape our 2.5 acres of land in Brittany, France. It’s in a state at present given that we can’t be there enough to keep on top of the weeding, manage the brambles or prune the trees. But when we are there it’s all hands to the deck and what we achieve is nothing short of a miracle in such a short time.

Outside Garden

Whilst we’re not working on our garden in France I love to use any spare time I have learning about gardening online. There are some amazing resources and very inspiring gardeners who give me lots of ideas and helpful hints for the near future.

Two of my favourite Gardening Blogs are The Enduring Gardener with all sorts of helpful tips and facts on gardening whilst being a thoroughly great read and My Tiny Plot a blog about vegetable gardening, seasonal cooking and family life in Portland Oregon.

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And if you’re after some quick and purse friendly recipes then head over to Love and Olive Oil which is one of my favourite food blogs. When my vegetables are growing in my garden this blog will provide me with the inspiration for some delicious family meals.

What’s your best gardening tip?

Splish Splash Splosh

| January 19, 2013

Baby cousins Imogen and Amber are having a great time playing together in New Zealand. It makes us all laugh when they’re squealing in delight and giggling at one another’s antics.

We’ve had some beautiful hot summer days so it was essential to get in the garden and fill up the paddling pool with some cool water for a splish splash splosh.

Baby Cousins

Baby Cousins

In the New Zealand you’ll find most babies and young children wear UV Protective Sun Suits.

I’ve since bought one for Imogen to help protect her skin and to minimise the amount of sun cream I need to use as a toddler who’s constantly on the go isn’t an easy target.

Hats are essential in the New Zealand summer sun. Don’t you love Imogen’s and Amber’s?

Splish Splash Splosh

Splish Splash Splosh

Kaitoke Regional Park

| January 14, 2013

We’ve visited Kaitoke Regional Park a couple of times since being in New Zealand. It’s a 15 minute drive from my parents house and is located in a stunning valley with the Hutt and Pakuratahi Rivers running through the meandering hills.

The park contains nearly 2500 hectares of mature native forest. Imogen loves exploring the New Zealand bush and dipping her toes in the cool river where we saw several eels bathing. We have picnic lunches in the clearings surrounded by native bush and hills.

Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park

I’ve really enjoyed hearing the New Zealand native birds again. One of my favourites is the Tui who has a beautiful melody and feeds mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants. Here you can listen to the incredible song of the Tui.

Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park

Due to it’s picturesque beauty this was one of the locations for the filming of the Lords of The Rings Trilogy. The Kaitoke Regional Park was home to Rivendell and the Fords of Isen.

Lord of The Rings

Lord of The Rings

If you’re in New Zealand the Kaitoke Regional Park is somewhere that’s really worth exploring.