NZ Field trips Nov 2013 - Feb 2014.

[kiwi]

One last stop to visit a patch of Montigena novae-zealandiae, lucky it was still flowering and already had some seed pods!
I was a little concerned with the spread of the Sedum acre, even at 1000 metres, far from any tracks, this plant is gaining territory. (Stop smiling Steve) Not sure if Montigena can compete with this invasive plant. I weeded a few plants out of the scree from around the Montigena, so it will be interesting to see how bad this scree is next year.

22 days and counting till a week long S.P.A.T trip into the deep South, Fiordland and Eyre mountains with Dave, Steve and Clint.

Can't wait!!!

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely pictures, my lucky daughter just arrived to Christchurch to enjoy the whole year in NZ.
Some people met here during Czech Conference. She mentioned no crevices in Botanical Garden....

I know of only one true crevice garden in New Zealand. I could pass along a contact for Lucy or you if you are interested.

[ranunculus]

Happy New Year to all our friends (old and new) in New Zealand ... many thanks for such a wonderful visit in 2013.

Doug, super images once again - especially the gorgeous montigena, I would have LOVED to have seen that one.

[David Nicholson]

Cracking set of pictures Doug, many thanks for posting them.

[Maggi Young]

As well as general good wishes for a great year for you in 2014, Doug, you know we'll all be hoping for a truly vintage year of great hikes for the S.P.A.T. outings with fine weather and wonderful flowers for you to experience and for us all to share through your kindness. 

[Tim Ingram]

That last picture in the first set of cordyline and dracophyllum is so reminiscent of  my memories of different plants, but the same scene, in the Cradle Mtn/Lake St. Clair National Park in Tasmania, with Richea scoparia and R. pandanifolia, the difference being a few red splashes from Telopea truncata. Magical scenery.

[jandals]

Nice training run up Te Kinga Doug . Toolie and I are having weather problems down here . I reckon that as soon as everyone goes back to work in mid-January the weather will clear up . Perfect for extended S.P.A.T trip

Sedum acre gets around by seed in the road gravel and then spreads from there . Will have a go at eradicating it from Central Otago later this month

PS - must dash . Reports of a bad weed (Ranunculus flammula) infesting a lakeshore have just come in . Weedbusters , up , up and away

[Lesley Cox]

Tim, I haven't forgotten the little Hypericum kelleri. You must think I'm totally unreliable, but I thought it might be better to send it, quite a nice little plant now, when your spring is a bit closer But if you can take it now, just say. Would you like some small seedling Richea scoparia as well? I have about 80 at present. It is surprisingly easy to grow, more so than the native dracophyllums in my (limited) experience. One in a pot has reached almost 25cms! No flowers yet though.

[Tim Ingram]

Thanks Lesley - I think that is wise; so far winter has not really set in but it usually does through Jan and Feb. I would like to try Richea scoparia; I had seed years ago from Jim Archibald but it was probably not fresh enough to germinate. I've only ever seen it once or twice in gardens in the UK, though imagine it must grow well in the cooler north and west. We haven't really got the right climate for these fascinating plants from NZ and Tasmania but they are very enticing!

[Lesley Cox]

If I send a few, maybe you have a friend in a cooler part who would like to try with a couple. I think ir's a super plant even without flowers. Jolly prickly though!

[kiwi]

Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours went to new heights this season with an amazing two week tour of the Southern Alps.
I collected Clint from his arrival into Christchurch and we drove through the night to arrive in the Cobb Valley, walking up to the Fenella Hut.

The Chaffey Hut - made traditionally from hand sawn Red beech and rock foundations, this hut has recently been restored.
Thelymitra cyanea
Aciphylla glaucescens
Views of the Cob river and Fenella Tarn.

[kiwi]

Naturally Bonsai-ed Nothofagus trees in the Fenella.
Dracophyllum traversii
Bulbinella hookerii
Aciphylla seed I wasn't going to pick!

[kiwi]

The inquisitive native Robin
Metrosideros species in devine bloom!
Moving down the Alps into the scree's - Lobelia roughii, Stellaria roughii and Lignocarpa carnosula.
Aciphylla aurea.

[kiwi]

Meeting up with Steve and Dave we headed into the Eyre mountains.
Home of the amazing Celmisia semicordata subsp. stricta!
Also another fav of mine C. philocremna.

[kiwi]

Interesting rock formations - felt like "death" watching from top left.

After two days of botanizing the Eyre mountains we headed for Fiordland.
The Gertrude Saddle.
An amazing Ranunculus lyallii
Bulbinella gibbsii.
The saddle with Milford sound in the rear. The model is the famous Mr Jandles...