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A photomontage of 4 different wasp traps made from coke bottle hung up

Wasp and Hornet traps

We typically put a waap trap up around the house in summer to keep the number of wasps at bay. This year, they discovered a queen yellow legged hornet in the early stages of building a nest in Glenfield on the North Shore in October, while two males were spotted earlier in the year in Grafton and Albany. It is the first time a Queen has been found in Aotearoa.
Closeup of some flowers

Spring has arrived – with its usual mixed bag weather.

“If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes.” Spring came with beautiful warm and sunny days, storm, hail, rain and sunshine in between. It was cold and a few hours later warm again and vice versa.
Cows steaming in the cold air against the sunlight

Winter done and dusted

There was nothing extraordinary to write about this winter, really. It’s not been too wet and not too dry, neither too cold or too warm. We had a few frosty nights and a few pretty rainy days but all in all it was reasonably warm and okay from a mud perspective.

And just like that it’s winter again

Feels like summer was just happening. Winter started off beautifully with warm days and sunshine over the long King’s birthday weekend.

Sunshine, rain and lots of grass

The sun has been more prevalent and the odd shower has helped all plants to grow a lot. It’s nice to see so much fresh green in various shades
sunrays through pinetrees with a glimpse of blue sky through the trees

Springtime is here

The weather is getting warmer, and the days are stretching out longer, giving us more daylight to enjoy. The rain is slowly becoming less frequent, making way for sunnier skies.
Naughty Joey

Video Post: Joey

He looks like a deer from the distance, he’s fluffy and friendly, but he’s a naughty escape artist who typically is to be found on the wrong side of the fence.
View into the valley with lots of fog on the ground, only hills and trees sticking out.

Frosty Days

The days have become short and cold, with some frosty mornings. Luckily, so far winter has not been as wet as last years.
A picture full of little red tomatoes

Good bye, sweet summer

Summer has come to an official end, and one can tell. The nights are getting colder, the fog in the morning gets more, although beautiful to watch.
Front picture of a brown cow in a paddock with blurry trees in background

Summer greetings

Half of January is over, and you be wondering what we have been up to.
Long table with lots of food on it and lots oof people looking into the camera smiling

Welcome to 2024

Bring on the challenges, 2024. It won’t always be easy, there may be hard work, there may be tears, but we will grow stronger together.
A wooden box (trap) with label next to a tree stump in the grass.

Keeping predators at bay

Pukeatua farmstay has 12 traps spread around the buildings and the paddocks. Every 2nd day they need checking for any caught rats or hedgehogs.