It's winter solstice and a wild windy storm front is sweeping across south eastern Australia. It feels much colder as the wind chill factor is high. At one time I would have felt comfortable saying that I enjoyed wild weather but, having seen the devastation it causes recently on the TV, I am reluctant to admit that I enjoy a bit of a blow (must be my viking ancestry!)
I thought a short movie would capture the wind and the accompanying howling more effectively than still photographs. But unfortunately blogger is not uploading the video even after 2 hrs and several tries. I will try again tomorrow.
Yesterday while it was still sunny I experimented with a papercut to suggest the effect of wind.
The mulberry tree hangs on to the last of it's leaves at the top. A cold dry wind from the west has been blowing for a few days now. Robbing warmth from the sunlit bright blue skies. More than a week without any rain, it seems like a long time since that last happened. Clear skies have brought cold nights and mornings of around 5 degrees, so a few more jumpers on and chilled fingers.
It has been good weather for working in the garden, quickly warmed by activity, the 18 - 20 degrees day temps are very comfortable. The image above from left to right shows the before, during and after weeding activity. Winter, in my mind May-August, is a four month opportunity to get the garden back under some control. Growth is very slow with the colder temperatures and major clear out work is feasible without the summer humidity. But there is definately a time limit before warmer weather brings on rampant growth again, such is the cycle of growth and weather here.