Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: kiwi on October 05, 2014, 06:47:50 AM
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Early start to the alpine season with a NZAGS trip into the Castle Hill reserve to see Ranunculus pauciflorus.
This plant is Nationally Critically threatened. Check out the fact sheet below;
http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/c/flora/factsheets/NZPCN_Species_2372.pdf (http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/c/flora/factsheets/NZPCN_Species_2372.pdf)
We were met by a Dept of Conservation ranger (an armed escort for plant protection... ;)) Who explained the plants were running 3 weeks late this season but there was some buds coming through. The plants population has dropped from 300 down to around 50 odd due to being a delicacy to hares and invasive weeds. The plants were caged but this didn't damper our enthusiasm to see this wee beauty.
Very similar to Ranunculus crithmifolius, which it used to be associated as a sub species, but is now a separate species.
Thanks to Hamish for organizing the trip!
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We found this hybrid that had our mouths watering!!!
Wacky rock formations.
At least this Hare wasn't eating to many plants...
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Some nice cushions of Myosotis colensoi- to early for flowers. Fact sheet below;
http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=74 (http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=74)
Brachyglottis haastii
Carmichaelia sp (monroi ?)
Lone flower on Clematis petriei
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Finally - (for now, the season has only just begun....)
We had lunch up the road in the Castle Hill village, one of our NZAGS members had helped to design/create these fantastic alpine beds, I had to share as they are so awesome.
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nice report, the raised bed is well design, just have to turn the head to admire the plants.
does the soil is in contact of the wood?
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Wonderful, Doug … though seeing those caged and timid buttercups fills me with worry about their long-term prospects. :-\
Best wishes to all our friends over there … keep up the great work, please.
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Hi Yann, the beds are lined with plastic.
Cheers.
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Cheers Cliff, not long before the Buttercup fireworks start.... :)
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Steve an I headed into Mount Somers for an overnighter in search of some new patches of Ranunculus crithmifolius.
We made our way through to the pinnacles hut, the weather closing in on us, arriving just before a hail storm hit!
Along the way we were amazed by hundreds of stunning Clematis paniculata plants in flower, Steve couldn't help himself....
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A beautiful day welcomed us above the bushline, and soon we had found a new, very large patch of Ranunculus crithmifolius.
We met up with Hamish and family at woolshed creek where we found many more stunning plants.
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Another nice plant.
The view back towards Woolshed Creek Hut.
One of the many waterfalls along the track.
Didn't look like the bus had been up this way for a while..... ;)
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Many thanks to the intrepid kiwi team which enjoy us with the actual pictures
of their endemic goodies. From own experience in former years I know about
the hardships to reach the places where these gems grow.
For me the last picture of decorated Steve is the best.
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Thanks Ruweiss, appreciate the comments.
I was beginning to wonder whether we had over done the NZ Alpine trips...
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Thanks Ruweiss, appreciate the comments.
I was beginning to wonder whether we had over done the NZ Alpine trips...
Perish the thought! I think we are simply speechless with the beauty of these places you are showing us - and it is hard to comment when giggling at the pix of you guys draped with floral garlands!
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Thanks Ruweiss, appreciate the comments.
I was beginning to wonder whether we had over done the NZ Alpine trips...
That's impossible ;) But I thought it was necessary to comment both here and at the NARGS site ;D
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I was beginning to wonder whether we had over done the NZ Alpine trips...
No.
signed:
The quiet one.
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Hello all your plants are just superb, spoke to Steve today not long before we are with you he promised that you have saved a special adventure for us once we arrive the helicopter trip sounds magic, keep all the good weather for then, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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Hello all your plants are just superb, spoke to Steve today not long before we are with you he promised that you have saved a special adventure for us once we arrive the helicopter trip sounds magic, keep all the good weather for then, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
So long as they take care of you , Ian - if they damage you, we will HAVE to sue......
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Cheers everyone, going to some new spots this season so should have some different plants to post.
Sometimes you wonder if you getting a bit repetitive when following the season each year - but as requested, business as usual. :)
Hi Ian, Steve has some really juicy spots organised for us, (especially the chopper trip) but there are always some surprises along the way.
Can't wait to hear your lectures....
Maggie, I PROMISE I will do my best to keep Ian safe, but, we aren't called the S.P.A.T (Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours) for nothing... ;)
It was on Ian's last trip over I nearly lost a finger - (due to Mr Tooles first aid skills) So hopefully Ian will keep us safe...
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Maggie, I PROMISE I will do my best to keep Ian safe, but, we aren't called the S.P.A.T (Suicidal Plant Adventure Tours) for nothing... ;)
It was on Ian's last trip over I nearly lost a finger - (due to Mr Tooles first aid skills) So hopefully Ian will keep us safe...
Exactly! There are many reasons to worry!! :o :-X
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Hi again, I will bring some special Scottish medicinal fluid which needs to be taken by mouth at least three times a day or perhaps three times after an evening meal see you soon, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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Hi again, I will bring some special Scottish medicinal fluid which needs to be taken by mouth at least three times a day or perhaps three times after an evening meal see you soon, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
You don't have it at lunchtime as well, strange?
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Hi again, I will bring some special Scottish medicinal fluid which needs to be taken by mouth at least three times a day or perhaps three times after an evening meal see you soon, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
You specifically told me five times!
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You specifically told me five times!
Sorry, this all is for me as a Dutch person a strange language. Should I be prepaired for something when I 'm coming over end 2015 for my speakerstour? joke!!
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You specifically told me five times!
.... at least!
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Just sitting down now with the Christies and about to sample the special Scottish fluid . We can neither confirm nor deny exactly how many samples we will have and indeed any numbers we may mention at a later date will probably be inaccurate
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Great trip with the SPAT crew, Christies and friends. Plant hunting on Balaclava Ridge.
Excellent flowering of Notothlaspi rosulatum this year, recognize this character?
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The Balaclava range is a haven for Haastia pulvinaris.
Also common was Raoulia bryoides on rocky outcrops.
We found this perfect plant of Helichrysum coralloides.
Haasti Sinclairii.
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Up the valley beyond Lake Sedgemere.
A Celmisia that caused many ID debates, at last call I think it was Celmisia densiflora...
Brian introduces us to the tiny but beautiful Orchid, Hymenochilus tristis.
The weather turned evil, making the night in tents very peaceful.... not!
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A small team of us carried on to Mt Arthur for two nights.
A nice pocket of Raoulia rubra.
Plentiful is Ranunculus insignis, also a favorite of the alpine grasshopper!
The plant I was hoping to find was Notothlaspi australe, and right on top I wasn't disappointed!
Unfortunately it was too early to find any in flower.
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The top of Mt Arthur was had the most incredible selection of Celmisia hybrids.
It was not too hard to see who Mum and dad was, C.sessiliflora & C.traversii.
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A new an exciting find for me on the top ridge-line was this Pachycladon species, I need some help with this ID please, possibily P. fastigiatum or P. stellatum?
The weather closing again...
Dracophyllum traversii with Kate Caldwell.
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Amazing images, Doug … SO ENVIOUS!!! Regards to the entire SWAT team 2014.
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I second Cliff - and add amazing plants and places too!
It is remarkable how different genera in different parts of the world have come up with the same solution for growing in harsh places!
As seen here in S. America, Viola volcanica:
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Good photo of Tooleio prostrata.
My guess at the Pachycladon species is stellatum. Here is a picture I took up Mt Owan last Jan that I identified as stellatum
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Here is a photo of N. australe in flower that I also took up Mt Owan last Jan.
[attach=2]
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Wow that Viola is stunning! It is amazing how these plants have evolved similarly.
Thanks guys!
Hamish, great weekend with your family, I think that species may be more likely Toolieo vulgaris? Possibily T.foetidus? ;)
Maybe Dave would know?
Going to have to get back out there to get another shot of N.australe in flower....
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Doug, amazing photos - just terrific plants and scenery - what a country!
Haven't had too many reports of readers fainting from the unexpected sight of t00lie's knees but it may be wise to give a warning of that kind of shot in future ::) ;D
I really must renew my efforts to find him new purple wooly leggings- things have never been the same since t00lie sacrificed his leggings for a boot repair for David L. some years ago ....... :-\
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Doug and Hamish: that Pachycladon stellatum is one neat plant
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Thanks Maggi, appreciated! You will be happy to know that Ian and Ann are safely back in Christchurch and still in one piece!
It's been great to catch up with them again, even better to get into the mountains plant hunting with them!
Yes Dave hasn't been the same without those tights, I think it is really effecting his performance in the mountains.
I think a nice soft pink pair would suit him now....
Any comment Dave?
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It was a great weekend especially after I had to cancel the previous weekends activities because of gales and snow . We are not having a summer at all in the far south .
The turnout was the largest in SPAT history with 15 people staying at Sedgemere and 2 others turning up on a day trip . Most of us stayed in tents and the wind on Saturday night was something special and will not be forgotten in a hurry . The wind did calm down when it started raining on Sunday morning and then the afternoon was beautiful weather
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Some of the crew sheltering behind Sedgemere Hut on Sunday morning . From left to right :-
Brian Rance - DOC botanist
Jandals - in gumboots and wearing full sandfly protection gear
Doug Logan - Kiwi
Ann Christie - well known Scottish import
Kate Caldwell - NZ native plant curator at Dunedin Botanic Gardens
Arne Clelland - Pukerau Nurseries
Peter Salmond - Hokonui Alpines
Ian Christie - well known Scottish endemic
Dave Toole - Toolie
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Arne showing off his new thermette and making us a cuppa before heading off up the hill
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The Blues Brothers - Peter S and Joe Cartman , who is making full use of a cushion plant (Haastia pulvinaris)
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Raoulia bryoides and the road we travelled up from is in the bottom right corner
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A very happy camper
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On Sunday we split and went our various ways . As you have seen already a few headed off to Mt.Arthur and we headed off to Wakefield , Nelson after spending some time botanising by the road . At Bert's Creek , Brian and Hamish were admiring a very large Helichrysum when they were dive bombed by a NZ falcon . As you can see the angle of approach is head high
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Being a travelling speaker is arduous work and each evening Ian would prepare tinctures for us to keep us fit and healthy . Here Pam Ladley and Stuart Murray are joining in after Ian's very successful talk in Nelson
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After Nelson we travelled south via Arthur's Pass where we stopped off to admire the prolific flowering of Ranunculus lyallii . I'm surprised that washing powder companies have not used these flowers for some sort of "whiter than white" advertisement
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It was a marvellous interlude and we made it back to the car just as the rain set in . Unfortunately a gust of wind blew off some flowers so we borrowed one
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Ian and Ann are on their way home and it was a great privilege to share some time with them . Attendances were fantastic for Ian's lectures and everyone enjoyed them . The spreads at the meetings had the tables groaning and I fear that Ian is slightly heavier than when he arrived .
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Hello all, we have arrived home from a superb adventure Baltic weather 4 inches of snow but good to be home. We are extremely grateful to The Team first Steve who spent so much time to make sure we really had a great time Doug, and Dave as well thanks very much. I will post some pictures with Dave Toole first you will see from one pic that he is as usual chatting up the birds, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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next
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I post a few pictures with Steve Newall otherwise known as Jandals he did admit that he forgot his 4 wheel drive Jandals for the scree we were on, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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A few more.
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Hi again sorry the Raoulia is buchanani, more pics, very interesting forms of Ranunculus lyalii Ian
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HI Ian and Ann, glad you made iit home safely. I shot out back today to check on the flowering of the Ranunculus haastii, even took along our buttercup detection dog...
Some amazing Raoulia eximia & Chionohebe pulvinaris.
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R.haastii....
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The buttercup dog also managed to sniff out these other beauties, R enysii and R monroi (although I think this one may be revised)
The last shot I believe is Ourisia caespitosa.
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Oh my, oh my, oh my … be still my beating heart. I've never been envious of a dog before!!!!
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A new an exciting find for me on the top ridge-line was this Pachycladon species, I need some help with this ID please, possibily P. fastigiatum or P. stellatum?
Hi Doug and Hamish,
Nice to see your postings of your botanical adventures. I am fairly certain your Pachycladon is Pachycladon latisiliquum. It is a northwest Nelson endemic whereas Pachycladon stellatum (Hamish's ID) is a very rare plant that is restricted to Marlbourough.
I am posting a picture of Pachycladon latisiliquum with a mature and immature plant taken on the Thousand Acre Plateau.
I was also going to comment on your mystery Celmisia (= C. densiflora which it is not) but Mr Toole seems to have settled on C. sinclairii as its name. I am not going to offer an opinion as I have never seen the that species and decent picture seem to be scarce as well.
Loved you Celmisia hybrids from Mt Arthur the C. traversii x C. sessiliflora hybrids are really neat but what are the first two photos in the posting?
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Hi Ian,
Pleased you and Ann had an enjoyable trip and saw plenty of plants. The Raoulia tucked between two slabs of rock ( between Steve and Ranunculus haastii ) is Raoulia eximia. You need to come further south to see Raoulia buchananii which you would have seen had you been able to fly into the Eyre Mountains.
all the best,
David
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Hello Kiwi and others almost back to normal now and the snow is melting nearly as col here as it was on our mountain adventure, more pictures to follow, first is the mountain we were at the top. cheers Ian the Christie kind.
My mountain_resize.JPG
Valley view_resize.jpg
Valley view 3_resize.jpg
Ranunculus sp resize.JPG
Notothlaspe 3 close_resize.jpg
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Hi Dave yes I realised that I had got it wrong probably other names as well I am going to post several Celmisia pictures as seen?. cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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Hi Ian,
You save all the tricky ones for me;
1 not sure; Celmisia allanii
2 Celmisia incana
3 Raoulia grandiflora
4 can't be sure however there are two species present in the group
5 Celmisia allanii a very nice picture of that species (some people consider it to be a form of C. incana but I don't)
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Dear friends,
many thanks for showing us so many beautiful pictures of these
far away plants and flowers, That is what I love at the forum!
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Hello David we saw so many Celmisias all wonderful would love to have a collection here anyway a few more plant pictures, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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Raoulia in the rain 2_resize.JPG
Pimelia sp resize.JPG
Haastia pulvinaris in seed resize.JPG
Notothlaspi 2resize.JPG
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Next lot
Notothlaspe 3_resize.JPG
Haastia and raoulia_resize.JPG
DSC_0268_resize.JPG
Clematis fosteri 1_resize.jpg
DSC_0121_resize.JPG
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A few plant we saw in gardens so many pictures the gardens were fantastic saw interesting wildlife as well cheers Ian the Christie kind
Anisotome 1
Anisotome 2
Bluff notice 1
Bluff view
Cyps in whisky barrel
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A few plant we saw in gardens so many pictures the gardens were fantastic saw interesting wildlife as well cheers Ian the Christie kind
Anisotome 1
Anisotome 2
Bluff notice 1
Bluff view
Cyps in whisky barrel
Really like those Anisotomes.
And who knew that if one made the 'sacrifice' to drink that much whisky, the barrels would grow such fine cypripediums? !! :o ;D
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Yes Maggie you are rite we only managed 3 x 1 ltr bottle when we in N.Z but with everything else well wonder we got on the plane at the end look forward to New Year, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Hello again here are a few more pictures one very interesting Lilium, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Strange sea creature!
Pimelia sp 2
Lilium hybrids
Fur seal
Gentianella sp