Castle Hill Peak

Castle Hill Peak is the highest in the Torlesse Range. Here the summit is obscured by snowcloud. The mountain is named after a farm on the western side. This view is from the east. On the right-hand side is The Gap, which is the distinguishing feature of the range as seen from the Canterbury Plains.

Unusual Ladybird

I found this strange ladybird on the Angelica flowers. It was the same size and shape as the common two-spot ladybird.

Moods of Mount Torlesse

Three photos I took of Mount Torlesse this morning. A rosy sunrise, A bright frosty morning, and then a nor'wester storm.

6.50 am

7.32 am

9.55 am

Annat Apocalypse

Fierce Nor'west gales whipped up mayhem in the small Canterbury settlement.  On the right is a wildfire in shelter belts and scrub, not far from the houses.  On the left is a dust storm from a huge, freshly tilled field.

                                  A brief movie of the downwind side of the field.

Cosmic Event

There was a lovely sight in the western sky this evening. From lower left- star Spica, planet Venus, the Moon, and planet Saturn.

Fresh Snow in Late Winter

Mount Torlesse

The long period of spring-like weather came to an abrupt stop last night. Snow fell down to the foothills. The mountains are whiter now than they have been for most of the winter.

Ben More with the Kowai River

 The willows in the distance already have a wisp of colour, which is unusual in winter.

Poplars with Ben More Beyond

Return to Porters Pass

Couldn't resist going back to take more photos of the miniature plants while there is no snow on the ground.

 

Porters Pass

This morning I drove up to Porters Pass in the mountains. After a long mild spell there is not much snow up there for this time of winter. My interest was the alpine plants that grow at the roadside. However, it pays to look up occasionally, which is how I captured this halo.

The sun makes a halo as it peeps over a mountainside at Porters Pass

There is an amazing variety of tiny plants, mosses and lichens covering the ground. The plants are very colourful and they are beautiful among the mosses and lichens. I don't know the names of any of them.

Moon Over Mount Hutt

Mount Hutt, Canterbury

Praying mantis in winter.  I don't recall seeing a praying mantis in winter before. This one I found this afternoon looks rather frost bitten.  Orthodera novaezealandiae

Praying Mantis

July Moonset

 Days are noticeably longer now.  More sunshine is falling on the Torlesse Range.

Mount Torlesse at Midday

Winter Sunrise

The snowy mountains catch the early light in dramatic ways. Here is how they looked this morning.

The Rubicon Peak of Mount Torlesse

Back Peak and Otarama

This is the sky that was reflecting colour onto the mountains.

Riccarton Bush

Today I was in Christchurch and decided to have my lunch at Riccarton Bush. There is a small patch of original forest, all that remains of the native forest that covered much of Canterbury at one time. There is a path that takes the walker on a circuit of the forest.

In some places there is a boardwalk over pools and wet ground.

Reflections on water of cabbage trees in the forest

Winter Afternoon

Folds of the Land

 On a brilliant midwinter's day that was amazingly warm I went up to the Malvern Hills, in Central Canterbury, New Zealand. The air was clean and full of birdsong.

The Malvern Hills in the foreground and the snowclad Big Ben Range beyond.

Midwinter Shadows

Fresh Snow At Dawn

After a four day polar blast there is a heavy fall of snow on the mountains and hills.

Mount Torlesse

Mount Hutt