Basket for what?

I am always amazed at the huge variety of interesting shapes, textures and colours that nature produces. It certainly isn't a case of 'one size fits all'. I found this basket fungus in Kauri Glen reserve. This specimen is more or less intact, unlike others I found that were damaged. The fungus attracts flies by its smell and texture as part of its future species 'support system'. The flies spread the sticky spores to other locations.

The Gannets are back!

It was good to see that the gannet's are back at the Muriwai cliff colony

Tuatara

I have to confess this picture of a tuatara was not taken in the wild but was taken at Auckland zoo on Saturday. Tuatara are an ancient species found only in New Zealand and dating back 225 million years to the age of dinosaurs.

Saved!

Wednesday the 18th of August 2010 was the official opening of the carefully renovated Wilson Cottage by the Wilson Home Trust on the Wilson Centre, cliff-top site at Takapuna.

This cottage was rescued from demolition to make way for the construcion of the new Wilson School building during 2007-2008.

The historic cottage was moved from the corner of Lake Road and St. Leonard's Road (as shown in this picture) to its present location nearer the main buildings and within view of the Wilson chapel which was recently awarded an 'Enduring Architecture Award'.

The cottage will be used by the Wilson Trust as office accommodation and as a wedding reception venue.

Molly Goes Home!

I took this photograph of Molly Brett the UK artist and author of children's books, on a misty October morning many years ago. Miss Brett was collecting autumnal material, including bracken and fungi on Horsell Common to help with the preparation of another painting.

It was years later that I confirmed that it was indeed Molly Brett when some UK friends visiting New Zealand identified the artist from a framed enlargement I have in my hallway.

The photo accompanied with my diary notes have now returned to the UK to be part of an exhibition at the Lightbox Gallery entitled - Escape to Wonderland: A History of Children's Book Illustration.

The exhibition runs from the 7th August until the 2nd of Febuary 2011
Sadly Molly died in 1990 at the age of 88.