NZ field trips - Feb 2011

[ranunculus]

Hi Doug,
What are the enormous leaves in the background?   They don't look right for Myosotidium Hortensia.

[kiwi]

Excuse the weeds!!!
The plant is Ligularia reniformis, (used to be Farfugium I think)
One of my favourate shade perennials.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks Doug ... now you mention it the name springs to mind!!!   

[Lesley Cox]

When we ladies call some grotty man a worm, it like that, we really mean. definitely NOT applicable to Forumists, but the occasional person out in the other world.

[gelene]

Gorgeous photos.

I love that Aciphylla dobsonii; is it completely impossible to grow in cultivation, or just incredibly rare? I never see seeds of it available....

[David Lyttle]

Gorgeous photos.

I love that Aciphylla dobsonii; is it completely impossible to grow in cultivation, or just incredibly rare? I never see seeds of it available....

Aciphylla dobsonii is not particularly rare. It grows on the high mountains/plateaux in the eastern part of the South Island (South Canterbury /North Otago) at about 1500- 2000 metres. Conditions are very exposed windy and bleak. The plants that you see in the postings are likely to be very old possibly over 100 years. Aciphyllas do not flower consistently every year so often there is very little seed to be found.

[Lesley Cox]

But as this year's flowering on so many things is so very good, perhaps those who are able to get into the mountains could remember to collect seed for the various lists, especially the local (and therefore fresher) lists. A. dobsonii and all aciphyllas germinate very easily if the seed is fresh. They grow on well too in the right composts.

[Hoy]

Magnificent Doug ... you know which image really interests me? 

That plant interests me! Anybody growing it in the garden?

[Hoy]

Hi David, thanks for the ID correction.

Ian, Lvandelft, thanks guys, the hand is slowly coming right, heaps of physio to go though.

Doing some alterations in the garden today and dug up a couple of NZ Giant worms.
Thought someone may be interested.
My daughter and I are fascinated by them, We've found some even bigger here before!

Are they usable as bait

[ranunculus]

Magnificent Doug ... you know which image really interests me? 

That plant interests me! Anybody growing it in the garden?

I suspect you will get very few affirmatives Trond ... I have kept it going a couple of times in pots and it occasionally appears on the show benches here in the U.K..  See of this gem is always eagerly sought.

[Hoy]

Magnificent Doug ... you know which image really interests me? 

That plant interests me! Anybody growing it in the garden?

I suspect you will get very few affirmatives Trond ... I have kept it going a couple of times in pots and it occasionally appears on the show benches here in the U.K..  See of this gem is always eagerly sought.

I suppose you are right, Cliff! (As always ) Growing in pots isn't my way anyway, I prefere growing plants in the ground

[kiwi]

Hoy, bait? I feed a family of four on one on those!

[Hoy]

Hoy, bait? I feed a family of four on one on those!

Yeah, that's very clever kiwi I have read that worms are very nice food with the right kind of fat and amino acid content to be very nourishing!

[Lesley Cox]

Small trip on Sunday afternoon, never expecting to see native plants except Aciphylla aurea, but was delighted to see the following and collect seeds for the exchanges. The trip was to look at the windtowers at Lake Mahinerangi wind farm. Perhaps David or Dave would give correct names for me please.

Gaultheria depressa

Small orchid

Euphrasia, Pernettya and hawkweed.jpg

Raoulia species

[Lesley Cox]

Having difficulties getting message and pictures in the same place.