Mountain and Miner's Lettuce

The peak of Otarama, Torlesse Range, 7.30 am

Miner's Lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata

I found a patch of miner's lettuce near the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge, on the bluff of the northern side, under pine trees.  How did it come to be there?  Was it introduced when somebody dumped their garden rubbish there, or does its history go back to the early days before the bridge was built?

Photo taken today.

Also there, the broom was in flower, and here and there a ragwort in bud.

Moon and Jupiter

The mountains were obscured this morning, but the moon and Jupiter were in the clear.

By early afternoon the mountains were almost clear for a while

Nor'wester and Starling

Mount Torlesse with a build-up of nor'wester cloud behind. 7.44am

Starling in late afternoon rain

The nor'west wind brought mild, dry conditions, but spill-over rain from the mountains late in the day.

The starling is the male of one of six or seven pairs that nest within my garden. Although I put food out for the birds they never touch it, preferring to graze in nearby fields or on my lawn.

Mount Torlesse at 7.51am

A brief glimpse of the mountain through rain before that dark cloud descended.

Spring landscape late this afternoon

No mountains today due to low cloud.

Moon setting behind Porters Ski Field 7.16am

                                                              

  I was delighted to find a few flowers on my kowhai tree (Saphora).  The tree lost all its leaves during record low temperatures early June, and lower branches I can reach are obviously dead.  Other New Zealand native evergreens in my garden that have died as a result of that storm are purple akeake (Olearia), Pittosporum tenuifolium, and Coprosma repens.

Kowhai (today)

Full Moon at 6.31 this morning

Mount Torlesse at 7.12am