Thursday 30 April 2015

A longer way home

The past two weeks I've posted photos taken when driving the long way home. 

We are lucky to have a few routes to choose from if there are no time constraints when travelling home from town.  (Have I told you how I love being retired?)  This week  I chose the highway west out of town, out past the hospital and through the pleasant suburb of Maunu.  I chose a side street at random, parked and went for a short walk to check out the fences.  

Two took my eye.  This first rather old and very ordinary fence, brightened by a cottage garden.



In the case of the second it was the old gum tree that beckoned me.  I was delighted to find a fence beneath it.


I wonder why there was a gap in the fence?  Seems odd that it was right beside the childrens' swings.



Out this way, a lot of the farm fences are made from the stones picked up in the surrounding area.  This is fence at the entrance to the Maungatapere Bowling Club.



Some have been there since 1846 when a pioneer of the district paid soldiers to erect them after the Flagstaff War.  Most were put up between 1850 and 1930. Around Maungatapere the stone is a blue-grey coloured basalt.  There are a few closer to home which are a red and brown scoria.


Maungatapere has been lengthened from what it was first called - "Tapere".  It means meeting place near the mountain. Next week there will be lots of shots of the mountains that I took after I turned off and headed for home.

Maunu, on the other hand, has been shortened from the original Maungamaunu.

I will be linking to Good Fences. 

14 comments:

  1. I havent' been to Whangarei in a while, looks like I missed this part of it, nice photos :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's quite an interesting difference between a wood and then a stone fence.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A fine selection of flowers. I'm glad I don't have to identify them or the rock in the walls.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It took me a while to remember where Maungatapere was in relation to home. The 'northern' route home? I rather fancy the idea of building a wall (a fence wouldn't survive the wind here) just so that I could have a flower bed like that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love stone fences and old wooden fences. They seem to hold stories for me. I do not know why that is. Perhaps the labor of someone who built it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. How I love that big tree! And the swings really add to the charm. Love the stone fence and the close up at the bottom, too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The fence by the tree that does not surround the children's play area intrigues me. Lovely places, all of them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful fence pictures. And I love big trees like that...

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a pretty garden in front of that first fence.
    Also that tree is cool looking and the fence was nice too. A pretty area for a park/playground.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is one of the good things about being retired, enjoying and exploring different things.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i do like the garden plantings and the fine tree, too. the gap in the fence sure invites you to swing on those swings! always love rock walls.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The old fences are attractive in their own way I think. The lichen on the stone adds to its appeal.

    Diana
    http://adifferentlenslens365.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/wild-kittens.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the garden against the fence.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Pauline, I love the first fence with the flowers, lovely.. And the big tree with the swings is awesome. Lovely photos. Have a happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete

I love to know who's visiting. Leave me a sign!