NZ field trips Jan 2008

[Maggi Young]

 How beautiful the scenery is, never mind the flowers! Little wonder Ian is so delighted to have been taken on this trip. Seeing the Ourisia reminds me, sadly, that we used to grow quite a selection of these charming plants but they seem to have dwindled away without us taking the trouble to get seed from them. It's too easy to do that in the garden, isn't it? A good lesson never to take anything for granted

[David Lyttle]

Hi Maggi,

No doubt Ian will have lots of pictures to show you but here are a couple of Ourisia pictures in the mean time.

[Lvandelft]

Beautiful mountains, beautiful plants

[Maggi Young]

David, Ourisia remotifolia is not one we ever had... what a super flower colour with that purple thtoat... our favourite ! Love those leaves, too.... and growingin the rocks ...is there any running water nearby or are they happy in dryish rock crevices?

[David Lyttle]

Maggi,

Its all damp as it is a snowbank area where they are growing.

[Maggi Young]

Thought as much., with the moss in the closeup pic, now that I take a longer look. .... thanks David.
Are you not going to the Study Weekend?  They'll miss you if not 

[Ian Y]

Hi All, A quick report to say that we have arrived at the University for the conference my first lecture is in 3 1/2 hours time at 7.30 so I am off to find my room and have a shower.
As you can see from the Daves posts we had a fabulous time and saw a heap of wonderful flowers - the scenery is stunning and so was the company.
After a night in a wind and rain soaked hut we are now ready to rule the world - as for Morris Dancers...............
There is another great week of field trips planned for next week and I hope to get another Morris Dancing Lesson from Dave Toole
I hope to have lots of good pictures to post when I get back and catch up.

[Maggi Young]

Hello, Ian.... great to hear all is going well.. but you could at least try to sound a bit like you miss me and Lily  Hope you "sock it to 'em" and that Finn is safely arrived. Best wishes for a great weekend!
M

[David Nicholson]

I was going to ask how Lily was bearing up.

[Maggi Young]

I was going to ask how Lily was bearing up.

Lily thanks you kindly for your concern, David She is not at all happy... she is very much a "daddy's girl" and she stops in her tracks to study anyone passing or within spying distance, while we are out walking, to make sure it's not Ian. She is especially enthusiatic about her guard duties in Ian's absence... she has just been growling and woofing menacingly at an innocent womann walking past the house. This hypersensitive guard dog mode is not helped by the fact that because of road and gas works in the area, there are temporary traffic lights set up near the house so cars are stopping  ( for the lights) and she thinks that means visitors... who might, it seems, provea dire threat. Bless her, she is only doing what Ian told her to do... look after Maggi, he said..... she is just taking it very seriously. Wwhen I'm speaking to her, she tends to gaze wistfully past me, as if in hope of conjuring up a vision of her beloved master..... I know well enough where I stand in the pecking order of this household.. 

[David Nicholson]

Ah!

[David Lyttle]

Since I appear to be first back on line I will post one picture from the post conference field trip to Mt Hutt.

Leptinella atrata

[Paddy Tobin]

Wow, David,

A fascinating plant, interesting rather that strikingly beautiful, I suppose but would certainly be worth growing in the garden. Many thanks.

Paddy

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree that "fascinating" is the right word here Paddy - it could be extraterrestrial... 
David, I'm sure we're all looking forward to (lots) more !!

[Maggi Young]

Leptinella atrata gets even more "fab"; when the flowers open there is a coronet of gold ....sure there's been a pic on the Forum somewhere of that... old or new forum, that is the question!
A really super plant and one that does well in the UK , either as a show plant or in a trough or raised bed.