NZ Field trips Nov 2013 - Feb 2014.

[ranunculus]

...........................and he'll need industrial quantities!

Would that be by the tanker(d) load?   
Having a magnificent time down here in buttercup heaven … two lectures down and very few heckles received, just a number of objects thrown and only three persistent groupies so far.
Loving it!!!!

[Maggi Young]

Enjoy every minute, Cliff - believe me you are lucky to be away from the British weather right now.

[Lesley Cox]

Cliff and Sue have now come and already gone, such a short visit but much MUCH better than none at all. They are a lovely couple and will be most welcome any time they can come back. Only three groupies so far Cliff? Add another.

[Tim Ingram]

Very envious here as the rain comes down and the days shorten - my only consolation is Alan Mark's superb book 'Above the Tree Line'. The New Zealand flora is truly marvellous.

[Maggi Young]

......................... Alan Mark's superb book 'Above the Tree Line'. The New Zealand flora is truly marvellous.

 A super book indeed, Tim. We were lucky enough to receive it from a friend as a gift but it is worth paying money for!

[ichristie]

Fantastic pictures hope to see more buttercups and daisy's cheers Ian the Christie kind

[Jiri Papousek]

Lovely pictures, my lucky daughter just arrived to Christchurch to enjoy the whole year in NZ.
Some people met here during Czech Conference. She mentioned no crevices in Botanical Garden....

[Maggi Young]

I'm sure she will have a wonderful time, Jiri- and it is so good that she already has friends there.

[kiwi]

Hi Jiri,

I have a Czech couple working for me at the moment here in Christchurch, Honza Kocur and Zuzana Slawikova, should your daughter want to catch up / get some information. Also if she is interested in plants and scenery, we are off to Mt Cook this weekend....

Yes it is sad there is no crevice garden in the Botanical Gardens.

[kiwi]

The S.P.A.T expedition team, Toolie, John, Peter, Steve, David L, Samantha and myself headed into the Hooker Valley early Saturday morning in anticipation for Cliff and Sue's arrival in the afternoon. We were hoping to find the stunning Ranunculus hybrids we found on the Christie's visit  few years ago, but alas, we couldn't find any despite the excellent flowering season of Ranunculus Lyallii. Cliff and Sue arrived in perfect timing as Mt Cook revealed it's summit from the clouds. After a tour up the Hooker, several beers and then a handfull of Margeretta's we had a cracker of a night, with plenty of laughs and lies going around. It was great to meet you Cliff, I loved your lecture at the NZAGS, the plants and photography was amazing, thank you very much for coming over, I can't wait to get into the Dolomites one day!
Also a big thanks to Steve-O Newell for organising the the Bookers visit and lecture tour, much appreciated from all at the NZAGS! Unfortunately this morning my truck died halfway up the Omarama Saddle, and I had to limp back down the hill and make a slow trip home. Sorry to miss the day up there with you Cliff, great to meet you and Sue. Cheers till we next meet!
Aciphylla aurea, Ranunculus lyallii, Mt Cook.

[kiwi]

Steve and John on a mission to describe a Leonohebe Sp.
The culprit Leonohebe Sp.
A heavenly garden....
The Hooker Glacier.

[kiwi]

Hunting Ranunculus, look for the tiny figure of John, middle left!
Myosotis uniflora in the Tasman Valley.
A mummified gecko back at the hut.
Interesting cloud formation over the Tasman Glacier.

[kiwi]

Pimelea oreophila again in the Tasman valley.
A rock I would love to get airlifted into my garden, showing the artistic scars of glacial movement.

[ichristie]

WOW, thanks for all the pictures, to see Mount Cooke and all the other flowers again is very special.  Ann and I intend to visit N.Z again late 2014 so hope we can meet up with you all have no fixed dates yet but a tour round is a definite,  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Anthony Darby]

Must venture to the South Island. Mount Cook looks amazing.