Today we left the lovely farm and homestead and drove back through the parched landscape to Wellington, New Zealand. 
This (above) has to be my favourite image of the New Zealand I saw this time..
New Zealand country. We were driving through the Wairarapa. They have not had rain in a while and it shows. Many of the dairy farmers are irrigating. I am in two minds about irrigation of fields to feed overstocked farms and Dairy is even bigger business in New Zealand now. It is a bit hard on the land and the rivers. Living WITH the land and the rivers is a very different thing from feeding OFF the lands and emptying the rivers.
Having said that, we all had an excellent swim in the river, yesterday!
River slime and all…
My friends are crazy! I love that.
The New Zealand landscape has the rolls and angles of a beautiful robust woman.
I very seldom manipulate images. My promise being that you will see what I see. But this image demanded black and white.
And so the journey continues.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
40 responses to “A side of country”
Beautiful country and beautiful animals. Love the “River Slime Monster” too. Safe travels.
I say the “crazy” friends are the best saviors you can ask for! I love that you are in coasting mode now… I love the carefree-ness of your photos and narration. 🙂
Very funny guy with seaweed head. And the sheep grazing.
Very funny guy with seaweed head. And the sheep grazing. Pretty.
We irrigate…but all the water is used from the reservoir to the farm, to the next farm, to the next farm, until it reaches the river. The river then flows and joins to the Colorado River which flows through several states then joins the ocean at California. How we irrigate does not deplete the water.
Although, those that pump from underground aquifers do deplete the aquifers. Those farmers have a catch-22…irrigate or watch everything die. Irrigate and hope for a miracle to fill up the huge underground lake.
Sigh!
Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
The “parched landscape of Wellington” looks very similar to southern Washington in the summertime. And that cow with all the hair?? I just wanted to hug and kiss it. Adorable. I would be a hopeless farmer!
Nothing wrong with irrigating if water levels and use are monitored. Most goes right back into the river (or aquifer) i suspect – all nicely filtered through well-managed (hopefully) pastures. Kiwis are world-renown for their managed grazing systems. They do look parched – too bad – part of the cycle. Sometimes ya gotta destock.
beautiful photos
the river looks like a good place to fish
i would not leave there untill it warms back up here in the spring
enjoy every minute while there
Hey. Celi, lovely pics .. Im with you on the farming though
I never ever thought of NZ being so dry and brown. It is a wonder that cattle and sheep can find anything decent to eat.I prefer my grass green…on this side of the fence!
Wonderful photos, I feel refreshed just looking at them. I am going back for a second look!
You have the eyes of an artist, Celi. The photos made me a little nostalgic for great mature temperate climate trees and gentler light….
Interesting, your comment on non-manipulated photo images…the very reason I often manipulate mine is so that you will see things as *I* see them! 😉 Joyful travels, my darling! ❤ K
I think what I meant was that i don’t go artsy often! Like the black and white.. though it is my favourite medium.. c
[biggest smile] Well, if you ever wonder what it looks like where I live – for around 20 kms all around me it exactly resembles your favourite photo two. Except it has been raining for weeks and showers promised all this week: so our ‘brown’ has totally disappeared. [No bushfire threat hereabouts either!!] But the same hilly countryside! Beautiful photos all . . . Daresay you are just about to kiss Sophie goodbye for this time and then it is only 24 hours for you: may all the landings be soft!!!!
I hate saying goodbye to her.. so i am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment.. c
Hugs across the Tasman Mom . . . . next time to Kiwiland you’ll just have to stretch the time and the dollar and come to Melbourne 🙂 ! You’ll probably have half your Down Under readers meet you there . . .
What gorgeous landscape, your photos are beautiful. Now I shall go back and see what I’ve missed.