Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: kiwi on October 24, 2009, 08:51:05 AM

Title: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: kiwi 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.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ichristie 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.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus on October 24, 2009, 09:04:21 AM

MAGNIFICENT     MAGNIFICENT    MAGNIFICENT

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus 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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: kiwi on October 24, 2009, 09:25:54 AM

Quote from: ranunculus 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

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.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus on October 25, 2009, 05:23:36 AM

Many thanks Doug, certainly sounds 'doable' by this decrepit old thing!   :P

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: David Lyttle 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. :)

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus 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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: David Lyttle 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.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus 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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Paddy Tobin on October 25, 2009, 04:26:57 PM

Doug,

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

Paddy

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox 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.

[attachthumb=1]

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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox 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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: t00lie 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

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox 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. :)

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus on October 26, 2009, 06:40:42 AM

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, Lesley!  Huge adrenalin rush ...

(The little charmer wouldn't be R. enysii would it)?

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: David Lyttle on October 26, 2009, 10:26:30 AM

Lesley's buttercup is most likely to be Ranunculus multiscapus but I am just guessing as I cannot see enough detail to be sure of the ID. It is very easy to grow and you are not likely to lose it.

I have some Ranunculus enysii in a pot that is putting up a flower now and then. I  could photograph it and post a picture. I agree with Dave; October seems very early for an alpine Ranunculus to flower but I have not seen R. crithmifolius in flower later in the season. It must flower very early

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 26, 2009, 09:45:39 PM

There was no foliage visible on my little one. It was all bunched up and tight, still mostly under the bog surface and just the flowers emerged.

What bothers me about Louise's, is that this picture is the only one, she says, with stamens, the other two don't, so will be sterile. She plans to bin the other two. Seems a shame as they could clump up better than the fertile one.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: kiwi on October 26, 2009, 11:02:21 PM

A few other shots from the Mt Somers area and plants. (Please correct me if I've misnamed)
Volcanic rock formation - Mt somers is an extinct 90 million year old volcano.
Views up the valley.
Anisotome aromatica.
A huge waterfall that was deafening.
Dracophyllum acerosum over a small waterfall
Hebe odora.
Close up shot of the Ranunculus crithmifolius
The last shot I need  help with guys, Is it Geranium?

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 27, 2009, 02:12:03 AM

I'd say Geranium sessiliflorum for the last one Doug.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: David Lyttle on October 27, 2009, 04:23:46 AM

Lesley,

Now I have had a better look at your photo I think your Ranunculus is Ranunculus gracilipes. The bog habitat would support this as would the leaf form that I could see (with a bit of imagination). I had doubted that you could manage to get up high enough to see it - please forgive my unwarranted assumption :)

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: t00lie on October 27, 2009, 06:51:28 AM

Quote from: Lesley Cox 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? )

Just had a look Lesley

I mean no disrespect to Louise's skill as a wonderful propagator    :-*  but her Ranunculus lyallii x godleyanus is just another pretty white centered lemon thing --after all it's not as if it's a Trillium  :o=.

There i've gone and said it --(Cliff),i'm away to the bathroom to wash my mouth out with soap or would mustard be a better option...... ;D ;D ;D.

Cheers Dave.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: ranunculus on October 27, 2009, 07:26:22 AM

Quote from: t00lie on October 27, 2009, 06:51:28 AM

Quote from: Lesley Cox 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? )

Just had a look Lesley

I mean no disrespect to Louise's skill as a wonderful propagator    :-*  but her Ranunculus lyallii x godleyanus is just another pretty white centered lemon thing --after all it's not as if it's a Trillium  :o=.

There i've gone and said it --(Cliff),i'm away to the bathroom to wash my mouth out with soap or would mustard be a better option...... ;D ;D ;D.

Your counsellor should be able to help, Dave!!!   ;D

Cheers Dave.

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: t00lie on October 27, 2009, 07:28:40 AM

 ;)

Title: Re: New Zealand field trips- October
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 27, 2009, 09:08:09 AM

Dave, how COULD you????? with Trilliums 10 a penny nowadays. :o :o :o