Well if this isn't the best picture I've ever taken of the coop ❄️🩵❄️

[Mother of Chaos]

- and yes, I may need to visit again! It's a hella long haul from where we live (eastern US), but I think it would be worth it...

When does it start feeling like spring again? I'm a geriatric college senior, hoping to graduate before I die, and my fall 2026 classes begin in mid-August.

 

[Chookwagn]

Are you North or South? I may have read this before, and if so, I apologize for forgetting.

The two islands seem so very different, geographically and culturally,

South Island (the mainland )

Yes and even east to west sides of the south are very different geographically
West coast of south island gets between 3 - 6 meters of rainfall per year and 3 hours away on the east coast we get 600mm (not sure what it is in inches)

 

[Chookwagn]

South Island (the mainland )

Yes and even east to west sides of the south are very different geographically
West coast of south island gets between 3 - 6 meters of rainfall per year and 3 hours away on the east coast we get 600mm (not sure what it is in inches)

3m = 118 inches
600mm = about 24 inches

 

[Mother of Chaos]

3m = 118 inches
600mm = about 24 inches

aka, not very much, compared to the west! That was kind of the feeling that I got when I was there. Christchurch seemed green in a very England-y, no nonsense way. Swans on the Avon, manicured gardens everywhere, the lovely Cathedral. Not at all jungley.

It was much the same in Hawai'i, although opposite coasts (prevailing tradewinds) - east of the Koolau range (windward) was wet, wet, wet, while the west (leeward) was often very dry (in the rain shadow.)

 

[Chookwagn]

aka, not very much, compared to the west! That was kind of the feeling that I got when I was there. Christchurch seemed green in a very England-y, no nonsense way. Swans on the Avon, manicured gardens everywhere, the lovely Cathedral. Not at all jungley.

Yep you got it

 

[Chookwagn]

- and yes, I may need to visit again! It's a hella long haul from where we live (eastern US), but I think it would be worth it...

When does it start feeling like spring again? I'm a geriatric college senior, hoping to graduate before I die, and my fall 2026 classes begin in mid-August.

Yeah its a long haul, you can fly direct SFO to CHC in summer. Or JFK to Auckland direct. OR IAH (Houston) to AKL

the nicer weather doesn't normally kick in till Nov. March April is a nice time of year too

 

[Chookwagn]

Sorry for hijacking your thread @Echelontheory101

 

[MROO]

Fun fact: I learned to ski in New Zealand! (South Island) when I was 15 or 16, living in Hawai'i.

Trying to remember when this was - I think it was late August; maybe on Mount Cook. I remember that early spring flowers were out in Christchurch. (This was maybe 1969-70.) It is simply the loveliest place I've ever been.

South Island NZ is my fantasy escape land if/when things just completely hit the fan...

Have you started packing, yet?

 

[Debbie292d]

Thats all haha
Just felt the need to share the cozy snowy vibes
View attachment 4260079

Here you go! I had nothing to do with this, but I did host it last year so got it again!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chilly-coop-contest.1680893/#post-28933023

 

[Echelontheory101]

Here you go! I had nothing to do with this, but I did host it last year so got it again!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chilly-coop-contest.1680893/#post-28933023

Thanks! Ill have to pick ny favorites to submit!