Hakanoa Reserve

Anzac Day. Almost 100 years ago today (25 April 1915) New Zealand and Australian soldiers under the command of the British Army were sent in to Gallipoli in an ill fated mission that was never likely to be successful. The ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) fought valiantly in an impossible geography and many died for no purpose. Over the years this day has come to symbolise nationhood as well as commemoration of all of New Zealand's fallen soldiers in overseas battles.

A wet and grey day all day long. A morning spent catching up on reports. An afternoon at the garden centre looking for inspiration for our cliff top property, as we got consent to remove one or two inappropriately placed trees (one, a young totara close to the house, and set to grow many metres taller and more than a couple of metres in diameter) on the basis of a replacement garden plan. Now comes the task of implementing it. Liked my shot of a ride-on mower. But ...

When I went on a late afternoon run in the rain, I looked for shots of trees for this week's challenge. Tried a number and like this one best. After passing through Bayfield reserve, along the Coxs Bay boardwalk, then some street running I came to a short section through an area called Hakanoa Reserve. In the middle of this narrow and not very long green space is a grove of Cabbage Trees, quintessential New Zealand, even if made famous mainly by way of their appearance in the TV programme, Hamish Macbeth, filmed in Plockton in the Western Highlands of Scotland. Plockton has a line of New Zealand Cabbage Trees along the loch front.

In the foreground on the left are flax plants, and the smaller trees are coprosma species, I think. The high bamboo is on private property, as the Council is endeavouring to have totally native plants in this wee reserve.