crunchy apples

and other yummy fruit grow just round the corner. And to think that I didn't discover this orchard shop until today, despite the signs being there for 25 years. Even better a lot of the fruit is taken off the grading line before it is waxed and polished. The Couper orchard, pioneers in reducing insect spraying is a long 3km down Bryson's Road, you can't miss the empty dam on the left (only empty for cleaning, there are other dams 1/2 full). The shop is open on Friday and Saturday Sept to April from 9 to 6. Lots of old orchard equipment and a tractor to climb on too. Mrs Couper is a delight, she sells her jams and jellies (although the quince is almost all gone) and is a mine of information. I can recommend the $3 Kg Sundowner apples and the freshly picked cherries.

garden patchwork

Paling fences are extremely ugly and cut long views through neighbouring gardens. But they do block out distracting things like cars. Here is my alternative. Made of leftover steel mesh and some of my abundant supply of bark, these weavings hang in the Melaleuca that grew too big to do their screening job properly.

Happy Christmas!

shady art

Even though it is now raining (at last) the shade cloth I stretched over the fernery will be useful when inevitably the sun beats down again. The whole view of this part of the garden is changed, and looking skyward tree branches play with their shadows.

Hidden Wells

Five quilts were finished or well on the way and shown off at the December get together. Pick your favourite.

Kia Orana

Yeah, booking for post NZ Symposium is confirmed on the western beach of Rarotonga. Check out my home base for a short stay in the Cook Islands. This can only say relax, relax, relax - then off to see tivaevae studio.