As I worked in the garden this morning I could hear the hum of many bees. Sure enough, the Rōhutu (lophomyrtus obcordata or NZ myrtle) is beginning to flower and is attracting honey bees.

I associate the Rōhutu with Christmas, although we have a ‘traditional’ tree in the house, kindly delivered by my sister and family on Saturday (we were anxiously keeping busy while Mum had her hip-replacement surgery).

It’s usually Mum who decorates it, but this year it had to be me. She is keen to be home, but has a wee bit of recuperation to do first. I’m sure Felix misses her.

While I’m on the subject of trees, I took a photo of this amazing, huge tree in Hagley Park as I walked to visit Mum at the hospital on Monday.