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Hi
Kia ora and hello again.
Well, its been a big month for Kaeo, the lucky town,selling the big Powerball Lotto ticket worth NZD$17.7 million. Sorry to report, it wasn't me who won it.
This month's photos
Tecomanthe speciosa
This vigorous climber is flowering profusely at the moment. It is one of the world's rarest plants as there is only a small population of wild individuals found on the Three Kings Islands at the tip of northern New Zealand. However, it is becoming popular in northern gardens where it is an epiphyte and ideal to drape over verandahs or decks. It is usually available from good plant nurseries. Tecomanthe is hardy and prefers a sunny position. It won't tolerate a heavy frost though.This plant is sprawling through the manuka and kanuka forest on the back of my property. A good news story of conservation by domestication.
Cassytha paniculata
Another northern climber is Cassytha paniculata. A leafless parasitic plant on Manuka and Kanuka found only in the Far North from North Cape to Mangonui. This photo is of the plant growing on a weedy bank across the road from the world famous Mangonui Fish Shop. Cassytha is a member of the laurel family, which classifies it with the tall trees tawa, taraire and mangeao. The twining stem can be a real nuisance for lawn mowers!.
Drosera peltata subsp.auriculata
Drosera or Sundew is a carnivorous plant which prefers bogs, grasslands, acidic soils and clay banks. It supplements its nutrition by digesting sandlies, mosquitos and other unfortunate small insects that are captured in the sticky-glandular hairs, thus supplementing nutrient requirements of the plants on infertile soils. I found this comment about Drosera and was intrigued by the flowery language of this 19th century author:
"Words are almost inadequate to describe the beauty of the transparent green floor of the leaf studied with rubies, and overhung with pale ruby lashes, tipped with crystals, bright with reflected colours of the diamond, the emerald, and the ruby. Enlarged under magnifying power, each leaf appears like a terrible but beautiful monster. The reality of its nature is displayed by the remains of its victims, which strew the floor of this lovely charnel house".
Edward Featon, husband of botanical artist Sarah Featon (1848-1927) from 'Lady Painters' by Bee Dawson.
If you think that this imagery is over the top to describe the beauty of plants, then surely Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern botany, takes the prize for the best metaphors to describe the process of pollination.
"The flowers' leaves. . . serve as bridal beds which the Creator has so gloriously arranged, adorned with such noble bed curtains, and perfumed with so many soft scents that the bridegroom with his bride might there celebrate their nuptials with so much the greater solemnity. . . " There's not much more you could say really!
Chelsea Flower Show.
New Zealand Tourism sponsored Xanthe White's display garden at this years Chelsea Flower Show.
You can check out this silver medal garden from these sites, Tourism New Zealand 100% Pure Garden and Video Diary or Kiwis can just go for a walk in the bush to experience first hand what all the fuss is about.
New Zealand Fine Prints of Native Plants
'Kaka Beak' Sydney Parkinson
New Zealand Fine Prints
Explore New Zealand Fine Prints' Online Art Store.Through this website you can easily find and purchase, at affordable prices all New Zealand art prints currently available. New Zealand Fine Prints Ltd has been New Zealand's specialist supplier of fine art prints since 1966. Prompt delivery throughout NZ (for $6) or around the world (for $15).
Book of the month:
CLASSIC WALKS of New Zealand by Craig Potton
This guide describes nine of New Zealand's classic back-country walking tracks, including: Stewart Island's North-West circuit; the Kepler, Milford, Routeburn, Heapy and Abel Tasman tracks; and circuit of Mount Taranaki, Ruapehu and Lake Waikaremoana. A well written coffee table book with excellent scenic photographs.
Buy it here from fishpond
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Until next time,
look after yourself..... and nature.
Contact : Tony Foster 73 Campbell Rd. Totara North RD2 Kaeo
Northland New Zealand
Phone: 09 4051844
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