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.