NZ field trips - Jan 2012

[kiwi]

Just returned from a botanizing adventure with Dave, Steve and Ann and Joe Cartman through the Awatere valley to Lake Tennyson.
The weather was rank, but our enthusiasm for our alpines prevailed and we battled on through and found some amazing specimens.
Dave requiring some comforting due to the weather conditions.
Haastia pulvinaris.
Celmisia sessiliflora.

[kiwi]

A late Ranunculus insignis.
Another with stunning leaf markings.
Twins...more Haastia.
Raoulia bryoides.
Celmisia insignis.

[kiwi]

Gentianella sp. (corymbifera?)
Wahlenbergia cartilaginea.
Lobelia roughii.
Lignocarpa carnosula.
The view up valley from the Island Pass.

[Hoy]

Beautiful! Sure it isn't sponges you found

Even I do not use shorts in that kind of weather

[Magnar]

Super pics,, thanks a lot.. 

[Richard Green]

That dreich weather looks exactly the same as it does out of my window in Scotland this morning.

The plants are much more interesting in NZ however...

[ranunculus]

Sensational plants and pictures, Doug!!!  Many thanks for posting.

[Tim Ingram]

The Lignocarpa is an extraordinary plant! Does anyone even try to grow this, or am I the only umbel-o-phile who is tempted? Somehow the plants look even better in that dreich weather!

[ranunculus]

I managed to germinate Lignocarpa carnosula and keep the seedlings (just two) growing on for two seasons (this was over fifteen years ago), but they remained tiny plants and always looked likely to succumb to any potential danger which, unfortunately, before long they did.

[Maggi Young]

I think Ian managed to coax Lignocarpa along for about four years.
He had better success with Stellaria roughii which  grew well, flowered nicely and made a lovely show plant.... not that the judges paid it much attention .... nowadays they might take more notice 

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for stunning pics as always Doug. Even though the weather wasn't up to Otago/Dunedin quality ( ) you obviously had a great trip, always better with friends along. I hope Dave got over his fear and distress.

[kiwi]

Our makeshift 5 star accomodation in the rain was just short of fantastic. Dave kept Steve and I up all night with his sobbing.
Speaking of Stellaria roughii.... not quite flowering.
Notothlaspi rosulatum
Myosotis traversii, yellow form.

[Maggi Young]

Speaking of Stellaria roughii..........

hurrah! No sooner said than done! 

[kiwi]

Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours always aims to please!

The Cartmans pointed out some interesting Celmisia hybrids.
Celmisia X linearis. The first 2, C. sessiliflora hybrids and the 3rd C. insignis X.
Finally, a rather deadly Aciphylla subflabellata. A stunning sub alpine species.

A great weekend despite the weather, awesome plants and company.
Cheers everyone,
Doug.

[David Lyttle]

Some nice plants there Doug; the overcast weather would help the photography as on bright sunny days the harsh light on those Canterbury screes give too much contrast for good pictures.