Matariki and the Winter Solstice

Sunrise 7:42 am, sunset 4:57 pm! It's all downhill now to summer. To all those friends in Europe just think each day gets shorter now!

The Greystone greystone has said: "Hullo!" to the daffodils, see attached photo! Gardening is now all about tidying and making ready for the spring. For those who like brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, onions and silver beet then Greystone has good winter crops coming on.



Helps to balance the red wine, slow cooked lamb shanks and carbohydrate (swedes, kumara, carrots and parsnips) diet with the occasional G&T.

The wines are coming on well with the pinot, noir and sauvignon blanc looking (and taste testing well!). 'Tis an onerous and demanding job but someone has to do it. Sadie's hand went up fast when asked!!!

Svend Carl Vilhelm's Remembrance Day

Once again the Danish flag flew at Greystone for Svend my Dad celebrating his birth date 10th June 1905. When we were young our Dad often had 'tree tomatoes' now known as tamarillos, stewed and cooled with whipped cream for dessert on his birthday.

Our new neighbours came out from Denmark in the 1950's and really enjoy seeing the flags flying.

June days in Greystone

The leaves are all down and raked. They have provided a base for the bark garden - some 15 barrow loads over the last 6 weeks. The autumn rains have well and truly soaked the Wairarapa and there is a great coating of snow on the tops of the Tararuas. Some frosts have been recorded, the lowest being -3C but all with brilliant sunny days following.

Some photos have been taken using Sammo's fantabulastic camera (it even tells you if the lens cover is still in place!). A wonderful assistance for the "retired one."



These photos show the berries and water droplets on the Indian Lilac Tree at the front wall and the next one shows the first crop of our mandarins, alondside the limes and Meyer lemons (yet to ripen). The Guardian of Greystone alias Picasso the big, fat cat is watching! He is handling the winter weather well; often on his personal pet pad in front of the log-fire.



See the 'naked ladies' in amongst the stones and bulbs by Lillehus very close to the grapefruit tree that has learned to resist the frosts.



Note: The daffodils have just poked their inquisitive noses through the grass around the front trees by the stone wall. Spring is in their thoughts. Just 10 days away from the winter solstice; Matariki will be celebrated on 22 June.

What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters; and what is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year.

When is the Maori New Year?
The Maori new year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the new year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

So there you have it, Summer beckons!