![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/2d1fc24f-eec3-4118-a22a-78eb53c446fd_rw_1200.jpg?h=c89ba22785ea6e2e7237ceda9cdf8758)
Our garden has a large collection of flax plants which, for reasons best known to themselves, have all flowered this year. This has given the local bird and insect life plenty of food to enjoy. In return they get to move the pollen around.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/e4244c68-eee7-4643-96f2-44c5f1843566_rw_1200.jpg?h=f041d14a7464de705f9ed57d7b33a4d8)
Local honey bee enjoying the flax flowers
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/acae7616-2a04-4eeb-a7e0-0b0a2097b14e_rw_1200.jpg?h=c4ff93c532424b4b053fcff7cf5dd416)
The unusual weather patterns have made for some interesting skies to watch
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/9b9c3330-9488-4d1c-a530-3224ed2fe73c_rw_1200.jpg?h=8cddd4d5f4a44c77d264341039d912da)
The volume of rain has been remarkable resulting in the river being allowed to run at full force through the local dam and power station
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/32c55f0a-2254-4e39-90a8-c9e0623373ac_rw_600.jpg?h=a30509d646cc2493fd7ef8639fc89118)
An unusually calm day gave me the chance to get up into the hills
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/303963fa-ac85-49cc-9a5c-ea235705f1b6_rw_1200.jpg?h=8c46073513af31957b1e18a548528b2c)
Having made the journey it would have been a waste to not just sit and enjoy it
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/0e08a2a6-7c0b-4a3a-a8f1-ebad5f1352fc_rw_1200.jpg?h=5b8f7eaa16489977b741f022edeb2961)
Typical views in Central Otago
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/603ad0a4-c100-481f-beff-1e17dfbc1788_rw_600.jpg?h=0a0ad1013d00b5752f6d642741c212c9)
Another busy bee on our plants
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/a26f963b-a5bb-4c12-8348-b43230d4b2e1_rw_600.jpg?h=eee6f124f6f27789ed707429cb1b37a1)
Did I mention it rained a lot!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/8954698f-7aa5-41b6-97a3-04640c902a48_rw_600.jpg?h=c60943bbf5cbc2c439424b95c17c5f40)
One very soggy Bellbird in our garden
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/f2cdb3f1-4e61-4673-b9aa-8e0013e2696d_rw_1200.jpg?h=a79ad7b02332798be4bca27d2ce5b33b)
Seriously there should not be snow on that hill in summer!!!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/992e3135-2f38-40b2-85f2-a8bbf18aa15c_rw_1200.jpg?h=f58a43f2beca46aa96a4d759a9cba1b7)
More crazy weather, this time on our morning walk. Somehow we were lucky enough that the rain didn't get to us before we got back
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/9833d447-0053-46e6-84dd-5eced6d60be2_rw_600.jpg?h=4fe925786e7cdda9437099b5a0ccce0d)
Lake Wakatipu is higher than I've ever seen it. This wharf is normally way above the water level
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/7bdf7a9a-c873-484e-8260-e715ac6165cb_rw_1200.jpg?h=bd6f9e690479ca1b6b22781e180cbc60)
When this is the scenery for walking the dog in the morning I can hardly call it a hardship
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/3d51410d-c609-490d-b70f-8edf7ac26d03_rw_1200.jpg?h=57a30c5abf78743e90d72bd068dd8cac)
More views on the morning walk
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/119f68c1-9411-43bb-8e90-03f58ac54f2c_rw_1200.jpg?h=18cceceaf21ab4b1fbed13539e010cad)
Sunlight creates wonderful rays in the morning haze as it breaks over The Remarkables mountain range
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/44a1183c-cbed-4b22-b224-e1a27da0b5b4_rw_1200.jpg?h=eea0c5d0444028022835d91fb6143562)
Stormy days do make for some dramatic light
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/e9f89607-d432-460e-9a0d-df529de250b2_rw_600.jpg?h=472b2a00e503d2c3d3fbb93d8afb4b8e)
Nice prize for finishing well in a local bowls tournament at Queenstown
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/3bb4c1f9-d85b-47e3-b931-4c1ca46801b8_rw_600.jpg?h=644c93e17abf45748b95ef8b984facba)
A lovely day had some stunning wispy cloud formations over Queenstown
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/b30b776fe4a2af3ac987358da973547a/b757d8bd-5b9a-45d0-9b5c-61427bb3065f_rw_1200.jpg?h=fe1daccc46d7fcbe8afcef82e389810f)
The final morning walk with Faith on the last day of 2019