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Author Topic: New Zealand field trips- October  (Read 3486 times)

kiwi

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New Zealand field trips- October
« on: October 24, 2009, 08:51:05 AM »
Just got back from a trip up Mount Somers in South Canterbury. An amazing volcanic area covered in waterfalls and interesting rock formations. I have never seen so many Celmisia in one place but the highlight for me was the masses of flowering Ranunculus crithmifolius.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2009, 09:27:25 AM by kiwi »
Doug Logan, Canterbury NZ.

ichristie

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2009, 09:02:58 AM »
Hi, many thanks for showing your pictures, WOW what a sight these Ranunculus are looks quite a hostile area they look so good, we can only dream must visit again sometime,  cheers Ian the Christie kind.
Ian ...the Christie kind...
from Kirriemuir

ranunculus

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2009, 09:04:21 AM »
MAGNIFICENT     MAGNIFICENT    MAGNIFICENT
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

ranunculus

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2009, 09:08:28 AM »
Could you please enlighten us a little more about the distances and time involved in this trip, Doug ... we WILL get there sometime!   :D
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

kiwi

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2009, 09:25:54 AM »
Could you please enlighten us a little more about the distances and time involved in this trip, Doug ... we WILL get there sometime!   :D
Mt Somers is about an hour and a half from Christchurch, next to Mt Hutt. It's a 2.5 hour walk into the hut, then a 2 hour loop track around the geological features. You can walk back out the way you come or go out via the Pinnacles hut and Sharplin Falls which is takes about 7 hours. I had two exhausted kids with me today so we took the easier option, but I plan to go back this summer and complete the walkway.
Next fine weekend we are going to Little Mt Peel which is another jump South, hopefully I'll have some interesting shots from there.
Doug Logan, Canterbury NZ.

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2009, 05:23:36 AM »
Many thanks Doug, certainly sounds 'doable' by this decrepit old thing!   :P
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

David Lyttle

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2009, 08:38:13 AM »
Hi Doug,

Lovely photos of Ranunculus crithmifolius. I have seen the plant a couple of times but never in flower. It is usually almost impossible to see against the scree habit it grows in but your photos show it to perfection.

Poor Cliff - he was born in the wrong hemisphere. :)
David Lyttle
Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, South Island ,
New Zealand.

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2009, 09:02:37 AM »
Had I been born down there David, then I would have craved Ranunculus glacialis and R. seguieri, etc., etc.    :D
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

David Lyttle

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2009, 10:41:52 AM »
Cliff,
you would have craved for nothing - I cannot grow what I see growing to perfection in its natural home.
David Lyttle
Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, South Island ,
New Zealand.

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2009, 01:51:52 PM »
A quandary, David?  When I grew many more plants for exhibition at AGS and SRGC shows, then I strove to grow 'better but still in character' buttercups (in the case of Ranunculus seguieri in particular) than I had encountered in the Dolomites, but always knew that I could never hope to emulate plants of Ranunculus glacialis as seen on the Hintertux.
I agree that plants always look magnificent in their natural habitat, but many can also be quite spectacular in a pot.  The glorious R. crithmifolius is probably one that needs those high mountain settings to truly look at it's best?   :D
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

Paddy Tobin

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2009, 04:26:57 PM »
Doug,

A wonderful show and the ranunculus is simply outstanding, a  wonderful plant.

Paddy
Paddy Tobin, Waterford, Ireland

https://anirishgardener.wordpress.com/

Lesley Cox

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2009, 10:22:49 PM »
Hardly a field trip yesterday, rather, a bit of exercise for family including dogs. There was virtually nothing in bloom so early in the season, except this delightful Ranunculus species, on Mt Maungatua, just half an hour away from home. David will know what it is.

173982-0

Cliff, may I direct you to the following website for a sight to set your heart a-pounding. Louise has not said I may post it on the Forum (not said "no" but not said "yes" either so...)

http://users.actrix.co.nz/hokpines/home.html
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

Lesley Cox

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2009, 10:25:51 PM »
There are a number of areas in the mid Canterbury area where R. crithmifolius in particular may be seen after only a few minutes walk from the car, or even as one steps out of it, for less athletic types than Doug. :D
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

t00lie

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2009, 11:20:44 PM »
Cracking bunch of photos Doug.
My first thoughts were --alpine Ranunculus flowering in October ??--no way !.
 
Then Lesley goes and shows another sps in bloom.
 :-\ I still have a lot to learn about our natives.

Cheers Dave
Dave Toole. Invercargill bottom of the South Island New Zealand. Zone 9 maritime climate 1100mm rainfall pa.

Lesley Cox

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Re: New Zealand field trips- October
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2009, 11:32:31 PM »
Well Louise has her stunning hybrid in flower now Dave. Have you looked at the website yet? And my own R. godleyanus are almost out. Seedlings coming up nicely too. :)
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

 


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