The Blue Soldiers of Pandora

A couple of years ago we were driving past this strange little parcel of land at Pandora when I noticed orange wild flowers in the distance. Ever inquisitive, we decided to stop and see what they were- not only did we find a lot of wild calendula flowers in shades of orange and yellow, but also a glorious, fragrant blue carpet of grape hyacinths. The further we wandered the more we found. I'm amazed that these old fashioned cottage garden bulbs are so deliriously happy to live beside the sea. Over the years they have merrily multiplied and there are now hundreds of thousands of them.

The beginning of Spring is a perfect time to visit and if you can manage a still sunshiney day, then a picnic amidst the Blue Soldiers is a grand way to welcome the season.

 Homemade food tastes amazing eaten in the fresh air out-of-doors. This rustic French Apple Tart has become a winter favourite of ours and is perfect for adventures and picnics in the wild.

 The violet jellies are so easy to make and so delicious. Made with violets and honey and set with gelatine they are not only divine but also a lovely medicine. Violet is wonderful for helping to moisten dry irritated mucousa that is challenged by the pollen load of the season.

 I have loved the musky, sweet fragrance of grape hyacinths since childhood. Isn't it amazing how with the slightest whiff of a particular scent we can be entirely transported to another time and place (and age!).

 We were delighted to note, as we picked these sweet flowers, that the bees just adore them too.

 Many years ago there were old cottages on this little piece of land beside the estuary. They must have buried all their rubbish in the back yard as there is a peculiar phenomenon of things resurfacing: odd objects, broken china, car parts, old bottles and cans and other bits and bobs. There's a walnut and a plum tree, a wide variety of spring bulbs and irises that have continued to make themselves at home long after the people have left and the houses vanished.

 No doubt the calendula flowers are a legacy of this little bit of history too.

These resilient plants favour the cooler months, so now is a great time to harvest the flowers to infuse in oil, tincture and dry. A compress of calendula blossoms was a healing boon to Rob a few weeks ago when his right eye suddenly developed a fairly severe case of conjunctivitis.- pollen and dusts from the process of re-roofing our house, most likely the cause.

 It's amazing how many people walk on by never knowing that such a treasure of a wild garden exists.

You do have to keep an eye out for tricky bits of blackberry and rabbit holes and other odd obstacles, but if you wander slowly there are more and more treasures to be found. I've never seen freesias quite like these before.

Beach beet lines the margin between the estuary and the solid ground. The rabbits think that it's been grown just for them, but if you're lucky you can sometimes find a sweet patch of tender leaves.

 There are native Ngaio and Karo bushes jostling one another through out the area, providing pretty flowers and a much needed wind break for visitors and gentle flowers alike.

You don't really think of the early spring flowers being quite so blue. It was such a joy to sit in the very midst of them, appreciate their company and watching the joy of the visiting bees.

 Picnicking with wildflowers is like visiting with dear friends.

 We then headed up to Eskdale to stock up on sweet navel oranges for our little fruit stall and then continued on the Napier Wairoa road to the Tangoio Falls scenic reserve. This lovely piece of native forest sits just under "The Devil's Elbow" which is a peculiar place for a nature reserve as there is a continuous stream of passing trucks going by- some changing up, some changing down; grinding through the gears. Certainly not a peaceful natural setting. The lower trail wanders through old poplar trees (not yet leaf renewed in early spring). How wonderful to be ushered along the path way to the waterfalls by a sentinel of Kawakawa bushes

 -a wonderful native plant that is very useful infused in oil as a healing salve for the skin.

 The leaves are heart shaped and of simple form. It is told that the grandparent leaves should be picked not the young ones at the tips, otherwise the growing parts of the plant will be inhibited.

So lovely to come upon this patch of periwinkle (more early spring blue) overlooking the most beautiful little river.

 The moss covered rocks shine in verdant green.

 This water of the Kareaara stream sings and plays and is filled with joy in it's journey.

 Te Ana is the first waterfall on the journey. Not far really- a 2 1/2 km walk there and back to the carpark, or another 15 minutes of good uphill slog to get to the top falls via a stand of redwood trees.

 That was just enough for us today.

 A lovely place to come back to any time of the year.