Beautiful autumn colours in the orchard this winter. This is a pear leaf. Each day a few more fall enriching the soil with more humus as it decays. #cider #perry #orchard #autumn #leaves #Aotearoa

Beau Vista Orchard is situated on the alluvial gravels of the Taranaki plains at the foot of the Tararua ranges. These plains are used for mixed farming now mainly dairy but inc some sheep beef and forage maize. So this is a common sight. #sheep #wairarapa #taratahi #Orchard

Our predator trapping is working. Sitting ( having a cuppa) watching the cidery trees, we spotted a pair of rifleman foraging through. Never having seen them at the cidery before, we are 5km from the bush line in mixed agricultural pasture, I was sceptical at first but for the short tail and tiny size, and short flitting flight. Once common there are only fragment populations left in the bush due to predation. We must put out nest boxes for them. The entrance holes need to be only 20mm! They are an endemic NZ wren like bird that is insectivorous and loves to lift lichen and moss off trees to get to the insects. It’s Māori name is Tītitipounamu. Titipounamu is a derivative of two words: “tītiti” which means “a mirage or vision of”, and “pounamu”, which is greenstone, referencing their greenish plumage. #orchard #NZ #Aotearoa #conservation #rifleman #ornithology

Carterton. Our local rural town in Wairarapa. Population 6000. It was founded in 1857 and originally known as Three Mile Bush. It was later renamed Carterton after Charles Rooking Carter who was a pioneer here and politician in Wellington . #Wairarapa #Carterton #Taratahi

Our 'other' perry pear is just starting its blossoming.

Day in the life of winter at Beau Vista cider apple and perry pear orchards on the Taratahi plains of Wairarapa. Woke up to a thick fog which burnt off allowing the cold air to descend from the Tararua ranges and set off the cold alarms. Spider webs or māwhaiwhai bejewelled with dew droplets adorn the trees. And the forecasters are predicting a sunny 17C in a few hours. 4 seasons in one day! #cider #Wairarapa #Aotearoa #NZ #apples

The daffodils at Beau Vista orchard are amazing this year. This cute miniature one is called ‘Tete a Tete’. They are well suited to New Zealand climatic conditions all across the motu. They prefer full sun but tolerate some shade such as under apple trees in a traditional orchard. Well draining soil as we have here in the Taratahi plains are best. #daffodils #Aotearoa #orchard www.teepeecider.co.nz

Sunny start to the day after a couple of cloudy ones. Snow on the Tararua ranges. This is the Waiohine river a major tributary of the Ruamahanga the main river of the Taratahi plains. A braided river now with stopbanks to reduce flooding. Close to Beau Vista orchard. #orchard