Beautiful late Autumn Days.

 Zygocactus or Schlumbergera or in the Northern hemisphere you call it the Christmas  cactus is coming into to flower out side a ranch slider window. There are a few fungal spots on some leaves  and deep within a spiders web, but it is brightening my day.

 This for you Pam. I know you dislike the colour orange but that is the colour of persimmons. This bowlful on the bench is ripening. They need to be the dark  colour you see at the bottom. They can be eaten when firm like an apple or left longer till they become a bag of clear orange jelly.  Sweet and juicy,

 I prefer them crisp. The original parent trees many years ago produced very astringent fruit but that has been breed out of these new modern varieties. ( Persimmon Fuya )

 Perhaps my favourite fruit.

ANZAC Day in NZ

         We are remembering them.

     *************************

 It is about a week earlier than we usually start picking Satsuma Mandarins. They are a bit tart still but this tree and some others have a big crop so there will be fruit for several weeks.

 I have also picked the ripest persimmons . Although  we've  used bird nets we are still getting a few bird pecks.

 Lots of them too -  Persimmons possibly my favourite fruit.

Chestnuts.

 

I just picked up what would fit in my pocket. It's Autumn so the Eastern walking track I use is smothered in fallen chestnuts. There are about 10 tress. Nobody else seems to pick any up because those who walk dogs won't go there when the prickly nuts are all over the ground (The prickles get in the soft pads on a dogs paw )

 Before they fall the nuts look attractive in the lime green prickly containers.

 Castanea ( not sure which variety ) probably Castanea sativa.

 As kids we used to roast them on a metal hearth shovel in the open fire till they split or exploded.

 As a nut it has no oil and a high starch content but tasty roasted with butter if you can be bothered.

Walnuts.

 If you have been reading this blog for some years you may recall that back at the orchard we had 3 walnut trees. One was particularly good. I used to spend hours this time each year collecting the nuts. Well here at our next property I am still doing it.

 This is my 2nd collection; I got  today after we had some light rain last night. The rain helps to split open the green outer casing so the nut is  revealed. The nuts now have to be dried ( in the sun ) for 2 weeks before storing or shelling.

 The tree has become very large and is near the ground in many places. This allows me to pull the nuts directly from the tree and discard the green casing. Its good because the nuts never touch the ground below.

 Here is a photos of the middle lawn with the walnut tree in the middle at the far end.

 When this season's nuts have all fallen or been picked off, the tree will need a big haircut and  the low branches removed so R can mow under it. Lately he has had to duck and dive.

Another better Walk.

 

Yesterday I walked the Puketoki Reserve long Track. ( Leyland Road Whakamarama )  It has wonderful untouched New Zealand Native trees / bush. The tracks are mostly well maintained and there are 2 bridges. There are quite a few steps but I managed well  as I always take a stick in case.

 This is the Te Puna Stream - way above where it gets to us.

 I was really delighted to be greeted by this tiny  North Island Robin  that  sat on the track and chirped at me. Not frightened.

 There is lots of regrowth and variety. Logging stopped in this patch of bush about 100 years ago.

Out Walking.

 This afternoon I had the opportunity to walk through I'Anson Reserve ( in Te Puna ). I have shown you this walk before. For me it makes a change from walking just around our subdivision. It's all rustic bush and ( some weeds and swanps and little ponds. ) I know all the NZ native tress and there is nothing that special here  but not bad as it is mostly looked after by volunteers.

I entered on the left ( here ) and exited on the right then walked down that road around a corner along that road and ended at Te Puna Village.

 A composting toilet is hidden behind some trees and beside the track should one need it

****

.

 My hand sewn felt mandala is almost finished

 I think it will become a cushion.

 

 A storm was forecast so I picked these to save them being trashed.

After Rain.

 

 My Zephyranthes candida or rain lilies are looking lovely. I am making a row of them right along the top of a retaining wall.