In the new year, we set off on a tramping (hiking) trip with friends.
We try to do this together at least annually but sometimes weather and other circumstances prevent it. However this year, the sky was clear and everything fell into place.
We were walking in the Cobb Valley of Kahurangi National Park, which is one of my favourite tramping spots. The walk ascends into sub-alpine then true alpine conditions and I love seeing the trees, shrubs and flowers change with the conditions. At the highest point we reached there were no plants to speak of, just noisy kea circling the scree cliffs. It's a fantastic place to spend the new year and do some good thinking.
This year we saw different types of gentian, hebe, native daisies and orchids. A forest of native beech trees with a lush fern carpet (3rd photo above). Fields of tussock with bright yellow bulbinella flowers (4th photo)
I sadly regretted not bringing a botanical book to help me identify everything, but I did bring a pencil and notebook and got a chance to do some sketching with Keira. We were both wearing our warmest hand-knits and sheltering under a tiny windswept tree!
Back at home, I've been referring to my books to identify and improve the drawings I did and am hoping to translate some into embroidery this year if I can.
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tiny happy 
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