About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Fences - New Zealand Sheep Farm and Gardens

This week I thought I might share some rather insignificant fences in New Zealand, whose landscapes are as varied and fabulous as the fences are common. These photos are from a 2004 garden tour of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Today's photos were taken on the South Island. Here we're driving on the east coast of the South Pacific near Christchurch. These fences were for cattle and sheep. In the background you see the snowcaps of the Southern Alps.
To get to the farm and garden we were visiting (Waipapa Clarence Bridge) we drove through the Clarence River valley. You can still see the Southern Alps in the background. I think this whole area looks rather "Lord of the Rings", don't you?

The farmhouse was surrounded by pastures dotted with sheep as far as you could see, their movements controlled by simple fences and a whole contingent of hard-working border collies:

Here's another view of the sheep pastures and mountains that seemed to have just erupted from the earth.

This is the farmhouse that is over 100 years old. An artist owned the house and also designed the garden. Can you imagine how much enjoyment the owners must get from sitting out on this wraparound veranda enjoying the mountain views?

The gardens were formal with tightly clipped boxwood edging. The beds were crammed with primarily yellow flowering perennials accented with dramatic purple dinosaur sized spires whose names are a mystery to me.

Yes, I'll admit that the fences were not the star of this show, but I thought you may enjoy some scenes from this mythic countryside. For more fences of all kinds and the stories that go with them, be sure to visit Janis at Life According to Jan and Jer for a list of the Friday Fence players.

15 comments:

Carole M. said...

I enjoyed each of the photographs you've shared; beautiful scenes

Lesley said...

Those sheep sure have a lovely view!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, i need to go there. these shots are just lovely. i bet it is just awesome in person. (:

Sayre said...

I could live there...

Dianne said...

I love the hills dotted with sheep and all the other lovely scenes as well
beautiful shots

I have to tell you that your profile pic is one of the friendliest on the internet
you have a wonderful smile :)

TexWisGirl said...

i'm glad you filled in the rest of the story. the 3rd shot w/ the sheep is postcard perfect! just gorgeous place!

Jan n Jer said...

Awesome photos Faye...What a gorgeous place! Wonder if this area got hit by the earthquake last year!

EG CameraGirl said...

You are tempting me to purchase a ticket to New Zealand! It sure is pretty there!

kayerj said...

beautiful . . .

Rose said...

What a beautiful country...I did enjoy it and glad you linked to fences with it...even if the fence wasn't the star.

Tina´s PicStory said...

beautiful landscape and fences ☺

Debbie said...

oooohhhh these are just gorgeous!! who said the fence has to be the star?? these pictures really shine, the landscape, the flowers, the sheep. girl, you've got it all!!

i want to live there.....

Wayne said...

The fence puts those beautiful snow-capped mountains in perspective, I love views like that.

Inger-M said...

Lovely series, but my favorite is the first one!

Living Life said...

Your New Zealand photos are breathtaking! I've never seen that many sheep in one pasture before!

Thanks for asking about my job, Faye. It is funny that you asked...I was laid off! lol!!! But no worries I have since found another!!