Winter's here, no doubt about it. A Manawatu winter. Not the severe, crisp cold of the South Island high country, but the damp, grey days of the lower North Island. Still, we've had a good run of mild weather, which has meant the pasture's continued to grow, making life easier for the farmers.
Hard to believe we're only about a week out from the shortest day.
[8 June 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 200, 1/80 at f5.6]
All content © 2011 Pete McGregor
The solstice always highlights the extreme distance between New Zealand and U.K.,for here we are able to read by daylight in the garden at nearly 10p.m. The temperature climbs (well, possibly) the soft fruits ripen, and all too soon it will be our turn to tilt back into cold and darkness.
ReplyDeleteHere in California we went from a long dreary endless winter to full-bloom summer in one amazing week. Just in time for summer solstice, we have actual summer temps. This past winter made me see how even the sun climbing north doesn't necessarily mean warmer temperatures. Winter is a weather pattern despite the angle of the sun.
ReplyDeleteTattered elegance.
ReplyDeleteRR, in midsummer I try not to think about that, unless the weather's too hot for comfort! However, I do find it hard to imagine being enjoyably warm or cool when I'm cold or hot (respectively).
ReplyDeleteRobin, we've had a long, mild autumn, and even now the days remain oddly un-wintery. Sometimes I wonder whether we're changing to wet and dry seasons rather than the more traditional seasons.
Zhoen, sometimes the spectacular colours of autumn seem to me like a final act of defiance.