Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) – Nymphaea Lake, Royal Botanic Gardens
I found a wonderful garden seat to eat my late lunch yesterday. In fact it had such wonderful dappled shade, I spent some time sitting watching the ducks at the end of my walk too.
It was located under some low hanging branches of a Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). The branches were hanging so low, they touched the ground and formed a kind of private room where I couldn’t be seen from the walking path. It also provided the perfect place to sit and rest my elbows on my knees to steady the DSLR and save unfolding the tripod for the umpteenth time.
My shots of the water lilies were disappointing – poor focus (surprisingly), but my shots of a Pacific Black Duck were rather nice with the ripples on the lake.
And the following photo shows the faint outline of my garden seat behind the Crepe Myrtle branches.
I took some really lovely photos of the water lilies a couple of years ago, so perhaps there was a slight breeze pushing them around on the water surface yesterday which threw the lily petals and flowers out of focus.
Surprisingly, the reflection of the Crepe Myrtle bush on the lake edge came out quite clearly though.
Oh how I love that duck!
I have to admit it was nice sitting there under the tree in the shade doing nothing but watch that duck (& some Dusky Moorhens) swimming lazily around, in & out the lily leaves and then over to the other side of the lake and back again. It was so peaceful and calming.
Really envy you your possie under the crepe myrtles. They don’t grow here – CHCH.
Sorry to hear that they don’t grow in NZ.
They have pretty flowers, but blow in the slightest breeze. I don’t think I’ve ever got a good shot of the individual flowers.
I miss crepe myrtles this time of year. Those ducks are great.
I guess you miss a lot of the flowers & leafy trees in the winter, but I’d love to get your snow LOL. I love the snow.
How’s the flooded cellar coming along? Is it completely clear & dry now?
Nice, seeing that bench I could feel some of the peace you had there.
Wonderful spot to have lunch, Lisa.
I might go back again this week to try some more water lily shots.
Cute duck!
I like the softness of the last photo! Great pics, Victoria!
That last photo is purely a reflection on the water of course. But it is a very clear reflection I’m sure you’ll agree.