Overnight we had a repeat performance of heavy rain and thunderstorms. By midday it looked bright enough to venture a walk at one of Hamilton’s 2 arboretums. We decided on Taitua; free admission and on route to the grocery store. Taitua is a bucolic country setting of 2 circular walking tracks and bridges through mature trees, open pastures, ponds, and woodland gardens. Stately eucalyptus trees (90+ feet) ribbons of white bark floating on the wind. Hibiscus, clematis, mountain flax, and dragon’s gold are ubiquitously. Fuchsia trees grow at forest edge (40-50 feet) have a short gnarled trunk and cinnamon coloured bark which hangs in long strips.
“Wildlife” consisted of grazing cattle, hens, black swans,pukeko and ducks. The cattle complained loudly until a farmhand in gumboots moved them to new pasture where the grass was long enough for a good feed! The hens were aggressive, darting from the undergrowth looking to see if we had food. We were a “pied piper” for hens, roosters and chickens running a few paces behind us – begging for a morsel ... we had nothing! Almost felt guilty; especially when two did not quit and followed us back to the car! “Hens are dumb” - right? Back to the grocery store! Tonight we ate fresh NZ lamb leg steak – delicious & tender!
No comments:
Post a Comment