Red sky at night

Off the back of a truck

We found this beauty at the side of the road during what was probably the last ever inorganic collection. It's in the shed for now but we have plans to use it as an entertainment centre once the rumpus room is fully fitted out...

Plum blossom

Keeping my fingers crossed for a bumper crop of plums this year...

Puriri Tree

The other treat that the arborist gave us was identifying this tree. I hadn't realised that it was a native - a puriri tree - as it's planted alongside magnolias and other exotic species. The berries are loved by kereru - the native pigeon - and puriri moths make their homes in the trunks and branches of this tree. A great addition to our landscape.

Byproducts 2

And this is the other byproduct from the felled tree - a mini-adventure playground. The arborist took it as a personal challenge to create something for our little ones to climb on and scramble over. It has bridges and steps and hand-holds and lots of platforms for jumping off. And best of all, there's an armchair for me to sit in whilst all the action takes place.

Toetoe

Byproducts 1

This is the bountiful haul from the dead pine that was felled a few weeks back - sacks of pine cones, a mountain of logs and a large mound of mulch. Should keep us going for a few years...