The Changing Seasons, October 2019

Kakabeak seedling No. 1. Image: Su Leslie 2019

I just looked back over my past few Changing Seasons posts, and this will be the third consecutive month I’ve talked about how cold and rainy and windy it’s been.

Consequently, once again I haven’t strayed far from home, and have taken very few photos. The silver lining though is that I’ve spent time extra working on the horticulture course I’m taking and have passed the first paper.

If I had to sum October up, I’d say it’s been a growing month. Lots of the seeds I’ve planted have germinated — including a second kakabeak. New plants that we’ve been able to shelter are thriving and we should be able to pick the first tomatoes quite soon. My gardening knowledge has grown, and with it my confidence.

I’d still really like some sunshine soon though. Especially as I’m off to New Plymouth tomorrow to explore the Taranaki Garden Festival and Sustainable Backyard Trail.

So apologies in advance if I’m a little slow to update the Changing Seasons blogroll. With luck I’ll be filling my brain with free-range, sustainably grown, nutrient-dense ideas (and my tummy with yummy produce).

Second kakabeak seedling. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Apple blossom — not my garden though. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Cherry blossom. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Cherry blossom. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Hibiscus. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Photo-editing play-time. Image: Su Leslie 2019

New growth on the fig tree. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Plums in time for Christmas? Image: Su Leslie 2019

Plums in time for Christmas? Image: Su Leslie 2019

New fruit on the yuzu tree. Image: Su Leslie

Solitary iris. Image: Su Leslie 2019

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.

If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

• Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
• Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

• Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
• Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.

Update

Pauline at Living in Paradise

Jude at Life at the Edge

Little Pieces of Me

Tish at Writer on the Edge

Joanne at My Life Lived Full

Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Lani at Life, the Universe and Lani

Sarah at Art Expedition

Ju-Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful\

A Wonderful Sheep

Donna at DJ Ranch

Brian at Bushboys World

And a huge welcome to …

Amy at The world in a Book

Tatiana at Travelways

Margaret at From Pyrenees to Penines

Horse Addict

… all of whom are joining us for the first time this month.

 

Wordless Wednesday

Spiced carrot cupcakes. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Falling slowly

Su Leslie 2019

No falling leaves in this part of the world, but blossom is definitely disappearing, albeit slowly.

I know I posted this song a few months ago, but it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt | falling.

 

Seeing double

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” – Ansel Adams.  Image: Su Leslie 2019

Some things feel like they should always come in twos — like biscuits, and scoops of ice-cream. Though with (regular) hindsight, maybe having two eyes but only one stomach is a problem.

Apparently, one of the earliest versions of  the saying “two’s company, three’s a crowd” dates back to 1678. John Ray wrote in his collection English Proverbs “One’s too few, three too many.”

Generally, gannets mate for life. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Brother and sister; enjoying shave ice at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017.

Two little boys; best friends from Day 1. Image: Su Leslie

Llew Summers’ sculpture “Dance to the end of love.” Auckland Botanic Gardens. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Father and son. Neuschwanstein Castle, 2015. Image: Su Leslie

Image: Su Leslie, 2017

“And then she said …” Image: Su Leslie, 2017

One becomes two: shadows and reflections.

Image: Su Leslie

Image: Su Leslie

Image: Su Leslie

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | seeing double

Monday Macro

Rain on iris. Image: Su Leslie 2019

The sound of colours

The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with base notes, or dark lake with the treble. — Wassily Kandinsky

One Word Sunday | Yellow

Note to self …

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.” –– Tecumseh

And perhaps more importantly I guess, is giving thanks that I have those things to be thankful for.

Ragtag Daily Prompt | light

Friday flowers

Image: Su Leslie 2019

Constant rain and wind this week is taking its toll on the garden. This shot seems fitting then for both Friday Flowers and the Ragtag Daily Prompt | a flower cried.

Layers upon layers

Evening light, Whanganui River estuary. Image; Su Leslie 2019

This week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge asks for interpretations of the word layered.

Do I approach it literally with the layers of a macaron or a cafe breakfast?

Salted caramel macaron. Not only layering of the biscuits with buttercream, but layers within the baking itself. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Hash-browns, mushrooms, eggs; layered to look good on the plate and distribute those delicious runny yolks throughout the dish. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Or stacked container layers, gone awry in high winds?

Containers, Wellington Harbour. High winds have wrecked havoc with the carefully constructed layers. Image: Su Leslie 2017

More broken layers?

Reflections in the contoured glass exterior of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, New Plymouth, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2017

Or maybe layers in art?

Detail, ‘Wave 2’ sculpture by Annette Thas. A tidal wave of discarded Barbie dolls installed at Tamarama Beach as part of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2015. Image: Su Leslie

Layer after layer of discarded Barbie dolls form a wave shape. Layers of plastic and layers of meaning. Image: Su Leslie 2015

And then there are layers created by the two-dimensional nature of photography; compressing landscapes into bands of colour and texture.

Landscape, Canterbury, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Tutukaka, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019

Not to mention layered images; double-exposures, super-impositions.

Double-exposures; a newly discovered camera setting. Su Leslie 2019

Photo-montage. Su Leslie 2019

Obviously, I couldn’t decide which to focus on.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | layered

One of life’s small pleasures

Sharing a plate of buttered toast … preferably with a pot of tea (and maybe some apricot or plum jam).

Even better shared with my boy — for whom the phrase “butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth” could have been coined.

Ragtag Daily Prompt | Butter