Tinsel and santas in the shops may have started to tarnish but nature is still pulling out all the stops to keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  A cousin of the coastal Pohutukawa, the Northern Rata tree dots in our valley around this time of year bringing a touch of Christmas magic to the otherwise verdant hillsides.  Now the core Christmas festivities are over it is time to start enjoying our summer holidays and true to form the weather has turned its ugly head to us and these hillsides are currently shrouded in rolling mist and battered by driving rain but the forecast is for more summery weather and long may it continue.

2012 12 27 0001

 

2012 12 27 0002