Observations by pgtips91

Self-sown Totara tree growing on verge of wilding pine forest

Ten weeks old and they are trying out their wings and about to fly.

Eight weeks old and they are nearly as big as the mother duck.

Six weeks old and getting their wing feathers.

Five weeks old and swimming on the pond.

A month later and they are still ducklings but growing fast.

A caterpillar, in the wild, in mid-winter.

A Monarch butterfly, resting on a bare Maple tree, sunning itself in the mid-winter sun, here in Kaukapakapa

Like squashed spheres in shape and growing on a rotting branch on the ground.

This strange little thing ended up in the after I came back from the garden.

Mature specimen, leaning heavily away from the prevailing winds on the ridge-top in a heavy-wind zone.

Mature tree growing on roadside berm.

Pretty white flowers growing on the roadside verge.

This 75 mm long Puriri moth was found on our rear deck. It was alive when first found but was later found dead with the ants already beginning to scavenge it.

Mature Totara tree(s) growing in the open. Taken from a distance and zoomed in on to show close-up of new growth.

I was struck by the darker stripes and wondered if it came from a wild hive.

First caterpillars for the season observed.

Established Totara tree growing on the roadside berm.

Established tree growing on the roadside berm. The leaves are similar to the leaves of a nearby Totara but softer.

Juvenile specimen of small tree, growing on the roadside berm.

Cabbage tree, suffering die-back and flowering from side-shoot.