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Alpine Shrubs On Ruapehu


Alpine Shrubs On Ruapehu
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3453 W: 144 N: 5902] (17490)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-27
Categories: Flowers, Bushveld, Mountain
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): New Zealand Native Fauna and Flora (2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-02 3:15
Viewed: 648
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Alpine Plants on the North Island’s Highest Mountain

These are the Alpine shrubs that grow at the top of the Ohakune Mountain Road at about 1600 metres on Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in the North Island of New Zealand.

I was down the Central Plateau last weekend at a wedding at Ohakune, 366kms south of home. Ohakune at the base of Ruapehu, New Zealand’s largest ski area of 1800 hectares of wide-open slopes.

We drove up the Ohakune Mountain Road. Starting at 600 metres above sea level at the Ohakune Junction, the 17-kilometre road passes through podocarp/broadleaf forest dominated by rimu and matai trees, rising up 1000 metres to the Turoa Ski Field. There was no snow.

I was intrigued with the huge-leafed Mountain Cabbage trees (ti kouka) with silvery under-sided leaves dot the roadside. I first thought they were a type of flax, but the more I saw I came to the conclusion that they were Cabbage Trees. They are so different to our narrow leaved Cabbage trees that dominate our landscape up north here.

Higher up, red and silver beech trees take over, and was so interested seeing how stunted and more gnarled they grew the higher up the mountain we went. They were interspersed with mountain cedar as you climb further. Then the trees succumb to the altitude and are replaced by specialised alpine shrubs such as olearia with its thick, glossy leaves and the woolly mountain daisy in amongst red tussock.

By the time you reach the top of the road(1620 metres), even the hardy mountain herbs are flattened, sheltering as tiny communities of cushion plants and mosses among the boulders. In an alpine bog next to the drive station of the lower Turoa chairlifts, beautiful yellow mountain buttercups, pale blue gentians and white foxglovesgrow.

I was so excited when I saw all the plants growing up the top of the road (1620 metres). I know NOTHING about alpine plants and I had to go to the local library to find out what plants I had photographed.

I hope I won’t bore you too much over the next few weeks as I share some of the photos I took up on Ruapehu.
ramthakur, Argus, eqshannon, bobcat08, mlines, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Janice, I find the place, plant and some other names in your note very interesting.
They sound original native names to me.
Coming to your picture of these shrubs which you have captured with immense passion, they are truly beautiful. Their roots must be holding a lot of earth to them to stay alive because the erosion of the slope caused by road cutting leaves them like that -- suspended above solid ground.
I have seen this thing happening in the mountain roads at high altitude in our country.
The image is technically outstanding.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-05-02 5:41]

Hello Janice,
This is a tantalising view of the alpine vegetation on the top of the highest mountain on N. Island, in a nice composition of colours.
I look forward to seeing some of these plants closer.
Thanks for sharing this and the fine note.
Ivan

Quite the blend of ground, earth some lichen'ish looking things and some odd growths of which I know nothing...quite the maze of living things...gosh knows what is actually crawling!
Bob

Hello Janice,

I have walked a lot in the mountains of Switzerland and I find also this type of vegetation. Wonderful natural colours. A fine diagonal shot. You see realy the altitude where you are. POV, DOF and BG are perfect. Nice shot.

I will certainly do to follow your photos about Ruapehu the coming weeks. I love all kind of flowers in the mountains. Their struggle to survive at that altitude is great.

Have a nice day and TFS BOB

Hi Janice, This is wonderful to see as it reminds of visits skiing or tramping trips around here several decades ago.
I like the way you show the heavy vegetarian cover over the soft volcanis soils. TFS. Murray.

Hi Janice,
You have shown the various colors/shrubs with nice detail/DOF, and I like the diagonal split frame..
Excellent notes describing the various flora along your way.
You won't bore me with more photos from Ruapehu, quite the opposite..Bring em' on :)
Well done mf,
Howard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-05-07 10:08]

Hello Janice,
Fascinating view of this high mountain slope with little tufts of Alpine plants! I'd love to have a closer look at those - I collect Alpines in my garden! I like the way they grow like a carpet here! Excellent capture, very sharp and the colours are beautiful.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Janice,
You definitely reached the top, Janice.
I think you actually DO know something about plants:-).
Well done
TFS
Annick

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