The Oxeye Daisy has decided to make its home in this paddock. Its related to the Chrysanthemum family and originated in Europe.
It's not very nutritious for the cows but the sheep will eat it.
It's a beautiful sight when out in bloom.
The dogs love running around in the daisy field following rabbit trails and tracking them down.
A happy Holly, ready to go home.
I spotted this bird at the far end of the bull paddock.
I'd never seen one on the farm, but after some research found out it was a Cattle Egret. They fly over from Australia in autumn to over-winter and are usually found around cattle and sheep.
A small stocky egret similar in size to a white faced heron, with a shorter neck and hunched posture. This is the smallest egret found in New Zealand and their numbers are dwindling after poor breeding seasons in Australia.
Another visitor to the farm is this white goose. We don't know where he came from but he seems to be enjoying the bull paddocks too.
Spring is a busy time with everything looking super green and growing fast.
Babies of all kinds are arriving. These chicks were born last month.
And I spotted this mother duck with her 2 ducklings this week.
Calving has pretty much finished. This group are enjoying a snooze in the sun.
And lastly our pet lamb Hilda, who only stands still for a nano second, so this was the best shot I could get!
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Its been a week of rain, wind and calves.
They are arriving at a steady pace despite the weather (or maybe because of it).
The paddocks are waterlogged and muddy but the cows don't seem to mind.
Today was the 1st sunny day for a while so I took my camera out and made the most of it.
This little fellow was running around enjoying the new paddock but stopped to pose before he was off again.
This little lady is one week old. My son had to help deliver her because she was a huge baby and the mother was having difficulties. He named her Hilda (because she was born on a hill).
The mother abandoned her afterward so we now have a pet to raise.
My daughter has been the surrogate mother this week but she is back to University tomorrow, so I will be sheep mother from now on.
It's that time of the year when the lambs start arriving.
One week in and there are lots running around.
Only 2 days old and these 2 are already practicing their moves.
Just born, a nice set of twins learning how to work those legs.
This lady won't be rushed, although I can't imagine her holding out much longer.
What a beautiful week we've had. Cold frosty mornings don't worry Luke and Ted.
They become beautiful blue sky days.
And the only cloud to be found is this one hanging around the top of the hill. I can feel spring coming.
We're well into winter here and feeding out hay to the Bulls is one of our morning jobs.
The wet, muddy look is popular, especially with the younger ones.
And then there was this one. My photo of the day!
It was a cold one this morning with a white frost covering everything.
This is an up close and personal shot of the frost on top of the wooden gate.
Our little white Silkie, posing for the shot.
There's always one who wants to get in on the action.
I was trying to get a picture of my very pregnant ladies when this one photo-bombed me.
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Winter pruning time.
The cleanup crew arrive.
I haven't pruned much over the last 2-3 years so it was a big job. The girls got stuck in eating soft shoots, bark and trimming branches.
I think this hedge needed a trim too.
Team chicken cleanup at ground level.
Meet the new team for 2016. These little chicks are 1 week old.
Delilah is doing a great job with her first lot of chicks. She is a nice calm hen (unless you are threatening her babies), so the chicks should grow up nice and calm too.
Delilah photo-bombing the picture of her chick!
The poser. There's one in every group isn't there?
This tree lives on Somes Island which is in the Wellington Harbour, New Zealand.
Looks like it's had a tough life battling against the wind.
Echinacea is a member of the daisy family and is sometimes called the Purple Coneflower. They flower right through the summer months.
I bought this plant last year to see how it went here. It had a few flowers and did OK but this year it is putting a a great show.
The name, Echinacea, was derived from a Greek word meaning 'hedgehog' due to the spiny looking central disk.
From my cat Toby:
"It's mid summer here and it's hot, hot, hot.
So i must sleep, sleep, sleep."
In this heat he is an expert sleeper, he doesn't wake up until the end of the day, and then he's off for the night.
Mid summer and the flax flowers are opening up.
The Tui's go from bush to bush enjoying the nectar,
and hiding from the photographer.
This is our pet lamb from 2015. Ivy was born in September and orphaned so we bottle fed her.
The first photo is Ivy at 2 weeks old. She only had one speed - FAST - so getting a photo of her that wasn't a bit blurry was impossible.
These 2 photos were taken 3 months later, in mid December. She has been weaned and is now back with the main flock. She still loves the people that come to talk to her though.
