<< Previous Next >>

Meri Kirihimete. . .


Meri Kirihimete. . .
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-25
Categories: Trees
Exposure: f/22, 1 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Pohutukawa Trees of NZ [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-24 1:23
Viewed: 1113
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
BTW - In New Zealand it is nearly 10.30pm Christmas Eve, and Santa has started delivering his Christmas presents in NZ already - So I hope there's some left for you tomorrow when he crosses over your country. . . Be GOOD!!

Meri Kirihimete. . . Merry Christmas

Metrosideros excelsa
Pohutukawa [po-hoo-ta-car-wa]
Pohutukawa (Maori) ‘drenched with mist’ or ‘splashed by spray’.

Commonly known as "The New Zealand Christmas Tree", because around Christmas-time it smothers itself with masses of brilliant crimson to deep blood-red flowers. Pohutukawa flowers appear to be composed only of stamens, giving them their distinctive brush-like look.

Pohutukawas are a coastal tree; they thrive near the sea, easily withstanding strong winds, salt spray and drought and are rarely found inland unless planted. The tree hardly ever grows straight and is more likely to have many short trunks with tortuous branches. Usually found growing on cliffs with the branches sometimes reaching in the water (occasionally even found with oysters growing on the branches) and the great roots spread along the cliff-face above.

Right now these wonderful trees are coming out in blossom. They don’t always appear at the same time, so as one tree stops flowering others are beginning to open. In a really good season we can have a colourful display for around 6-8 weeks.

The petals are small and hairy-backed, the most conspicuous part of the flower being the crimson-stalked stamens which may reach 5cm in length. Each ring of stamens surrounds a calyx funnel filled to overflowing with viscous nectar that is much sought after by honeybees and birds. Flowers appear in December and January and whitish seed capsules follow the flowers and open around May to release multitudes of thin, brown seeds which ripen by the following spring.

Wishing you all the very best Christmas holidays ever, and please, Remember the reason for the season

Kia ora and Meri Kirihimete from Down Under. . .

Janice

P.S. Today I went looking for the best Pohutukawa tree I could find. With the winds we've been having lately many of the flowers have lost their red petals, but here was one at Mairangi Bay in full bloom - so enjoy it please.

Check out the WORKSHOP, please...
loot, azleader, uleko, bobcat08, Argus, szatanowska, marhowie has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To thistle: Pohutukawa to you!!Janice 2 01-01 04:52
To azleader: Fairy DusterJanice 1 12-25 01:32
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Pier Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 25 W: 0 N: 37] (808)
  • [2007-12-24 1:46]

Molto bella la foto e di un colore che si intona perfettamente al periodo Natalizio.
Tanti auguri.
Piero

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-12-24 3:12]

Hi Janice,
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you too.
Wonderful shot of these red flowers of the NZ's Christmas tree. Lovely bright red colours and sharp details. I like your POV to portray it and the fabulous presentation. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2007-12-24 6:32]

Wonderfully rich seasonal colours!
Merry Christmas to you and yours too

Thank you for sharing this and so many more wonderful captures all the long year
Silke

Hi Janice ,
nice shot with beautiful colours.
well done

Merry Christmas

Regards
Saeed

Kia Ora Janice,
Thank you for your wonderful Kiwi Christmas greeting postcard, much appreciated!
Sincerely wishing you and Dave also the family
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
my best regards goes to you always
Tony and family

Though it is an entire different plant altogether that lives in a totally different biome it reminds me of the desert fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla) that grows wild in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona USA:
Fairy Duster

Fairy dusters are not trees, but short scrubs with delicate blossoms that thrive in one of the hottest deserts on earth where summer temperatures commonly hit 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit(43-50 degrees Celsius)

More information is here:
About Fairy Dusters at DesertUSA
More about Fairy Dusters

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-12-24 12:40]

Hello Janice,
What lovely scarlet flowers so suitable for a Christmas card. Excellent composition and fine sharp details. Many thanks and I wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best wishes for the New Year too!
Ulla

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3650] (10031)
  • [2007-12-25 1:11]

Hi Janice

Thanks for this beautiful gesture and for this lovely image, the beautiful workshop, and also for all the other wonderful postings you shared with us throughout the year.

All the best for you and your loved ones during this festive season and beyond into the New Year that looms ahead.

May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas, and for the New Year I wish for you:
Health to Enjoy each day in Comfort,
Copious measures of Love from Friends and Family,
The Exquisite Beauty of Nature,
Wisdom to Choose priorities Sensibly,
Prosperity and the Best of everything,
Generosity so you may Share the above,
Overflowing Happiness and Abundant Joy,
and a Youthful Excitement at life's Simple Pleasures,

Warmest regards
Kia Ora
Loot

Kia Ora Janice,

That's the only blooming tree that I have missed when I was on vacation in NZ. Yes, enough photo's and postcards but never in real. Thanks for sharing this wonderful blooming POHUTUKAWA. Sharp as usual. Trough you good POV you can see more then enough details. Splendid. Regards and TFS BOB. Because Christmas is now in NZ over, have A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR with your family.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-12-26 5:55]

Hello Janice , A Beauty postcard fantastic colours , I wish you good day's and good 2008 for you and the famely ,Greetings Teunie .

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2007-12-26 13:43]

Hello Janice,
I missed this fine Christmas card but it is not too late too wish you and your family all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
The stunning red of these flowers is well captured in this photo and it is not surprising that they feature as a NZ Christmas symbol.
Thanks for sharing this,
Ivan

Very nice Janice, somehow I knew your Christmas card would have some red in it :)
Beautiful vibrant reds, they look fantastic against the green BG. Very nice WA of this gorgeous tree as well..
Happy Holidays!
Howard

Hi Janice,
This is a stunning tree, what a beauty! Thank you so much for this effort to bring us so nice wishes. This is a very good picture with plenty of great details to look at and this picture in WS is impressive. We don't have such trees here :) Thanks and enjoy this nice time of year!
Claudine

Hello Janice,
I was 100% sure I will see a Pohutukawa tree in your gallery again.I'm glad I wasn't wrong :-) By the way, if not TN I wouldn't probably have any idea what a Pohutukawa was. Anyway, great to still see you here!

Have a lovely New Year!

Cheers,
Monika

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-02 11:10]

Hello Janice

This is an impressive capture of this beautiful tree.They must make a lovely show all decked out like this.
The focus is sharp with wonderful detail.
It makes a great Christmas card.
TFS

Rob
Best wishes for 2008.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF