At least that’s how they should be regarded — the NZ practice of considering the seasons changing on the 1st of March, June, September and December isn’t how they are marked in Europe, rather the equinoxes and solstices are so marked.

Here is a picture of our favourite corner of our garden in Waikanae, the lancewood tree on the left and the kowhai on the right form a sort of arch for our garden seat area, just visible. The lancewood used to look even better, but a storm on 17 April last year tore off a branch containing about a third of the canopy 🙁

A few locals in the last few days took up our offer of self-sown kowhai and puriri seedlings in this area which we didn’t want.  In the past we have sold them on TradeMe, but thought we would demonstrate community good neighbourliness this time.