Cactii recovery operation.
John West John West

Cactii recovery operation.

Five months ago I repotted a number of plants that had languished for a year in the tiny pots I found them in. Most exploded into life but one fared less well.

This is a happy tale of Cactii who survive the rigours of life on my deck in Kumeū.

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Dendrobium Enobi Purple and its labellum with a distinctive mullet.
John West John West

Dendrobium Enobi Purple and its labellum with a distinctive mullet.

Most Dendrobium orchids are epiphytes; there are more than 1000 species. A key identifying feature is often the labellum. A mullet Mohawk gracing the Labellum’s middle lobe caught my eye.

Mullets lure and guide insects to the plant. They direct them toward pollinia, looming overhead on top of the tower.

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Fuchsia plants and the flowering frog.
John West John West

Fuchsia plants and the flowering frog.

I first became acquainted with fuchsia flowers more than 40 years ago during my “pre camera” days.

A dream chemist’s career in Research and Development with Glaxo Laboratories and Syntex Pharmaceuticals was history.

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Gymnocalycium Mihanovichii, I think.
John West John West

Gymnocalycium Mihanovichii, I think.

My plant recognition app identified this cactus. The flower opened incompletely in the late afternoon sun. It wasn’t the first small Gymnocalycium plant that has failed to open fully for me.

After a quick read through articles by “cactus people” the phrase “incomplete opening” cropped up a few times.

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Cactulents in Red
John West John West

Cactulents in Red

Cactii and succulents have become a passion of mine recently. They are utterly captivating as they adapt to harsh environments with style. Today I just wanted to have fun taking a few pics.

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Pōhutukawa Season
John West John West

Pōhutukawa Season

I love the flowers on this tree. Nothing more to say on the first day of 2025. Happy New Year Everyone

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Cotyledon flowers.
John West John West

Cotyledon flowers.

Cotyledon succulent, a jaded dusty plant with loads of charm and interesting chemistry.

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Paphiopedilum Deconstructed.
John West John West

Paphiopedilum Deconstructed.

The staminode, a repurposed sterile anther is a big feature inside the slipper orchid lip. Shaped like a giant flyswat, it collects incoming female hoverflies on its smooth surface before dropping them into the cup shaped lip where they buzz around before working out how to escape.

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Epidendrum Pacific Rose Part 1
John West John West

Epidendrum Pacific Rose Part 1

Epidendrum Pacific Rose is apparently a cross between Epi. Pacific vista and Epi. Orange Glow. It’s easy to see which side of the family lent it’s colour genes to the mix..

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Te Henga Pillow lavas
John West John West

Te Henga Pillow lavas

The pillow lavas at Te Henga, part 1. Landside.

It began with a submarine landslide about 15 million years ago when a huge lahar cascaded down the slopes of an ancient volcano. The volcanic slurry of pebbles and boulders came to rest not far from the lifeguard station at the north end of the beach.

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Begonia Masoniana.
John West John West

Begonia Masoniana.

I came accross this plant in the Plant Barn Henderson, and thought I’d have a closer look. The flowers should be interesting when they open.

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