Manuka, tiny white flowers.
Didn’t expect to see Manuka flowers after the heavy frosts we have been experiencing. I climbed up the tree with my macro lens to get a closer look.
Impatiens Walleriana, gender fluid.
The flowers are hermaphroditic when they emerge. Once pollen has been released the female side of the flower takes control and remaining male parts are dispensed with.
Primrose deep dive.
This wee beauty suddenly exploded with flowers. Not clear what is happening in the bullseye from this picture…..
John Main Arena, 150 million year project, Takapuna less.
The grand-sounding “John Maine Arena” in London, on The Embankment, isn’t a new football stadium or a performing arts centre. This understated sculpture sits outside The National Theatre.
Osteospermum yellow, a bunch of flowers wrapped in petals.
Big sunshine yellow ray florets, ring an array of disc florets on day 1. It takes another 7 days before the secrets of this flower are fully revealed.
Texas Bluebells Fusion.
Two flowers for the price of one.
Rocks and flowers grab my attention when football is in the background. I have more success photographing rocks. They last for millions of years, are quite hard and don’t move around unless you are very unlucky. I love flowers,but, don’t look after them properly.
My Texas Bluebell plant lasted only a few days when I forgot to water it.
Green tea seepage left red stains on the Karioitahi cliffs.
Polyphenols extracted from green tea leaves have medicinal properties. They remove harmful free radicals that speed up ageing.
A different variety of green tea soaked through the Karioitahi sandstones leaving deep red stains a long time ago.
Antirrhinum deconstructed
It’s easier to see inside when you pull this flower apart. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Impatiens Walleriana, bright and colourful.
I bought this plant cheap because it wasn’t in top condition. It’s still very pretty.
It’s easy to google a plant and have all the information you want. I prefer to discover any secrets a plant holds by taking a few pics with my macro. This plant has a few surprises.
An Antirrhinum kit set unpacking in the sun.
Nature utilises every colour in the visible spectrum, and beyond with bees.
A few more Gazinia pics.
Three Gazinia flowers all in a row.
Five million years ago a Koromiko migrant put down roots in Aotearoa.
The first Koromiko seeds arrived in Aotearoa by air rather than sea around 5 million years ago. Biosecurity systems relied heavily on isolation back in the day.
Muriwai, 17 million years before Gannets flew in from Australia.
17 million years ago these layered volcanic sandstones were forming on the ocean floor. Gannets hadn’t been invented yet.
Tall tetrapods march through Kumeu mist.
Tall tetrapods march through early morning mist in Kumeu.
Baby wasps and big bees love koromiko.
Koromiko plants cater for all insect sizes.
Yet to open buds come pre-coated with nectar and this suits baby wasps.
Fully grown bees love to feast on the open flowers.
Baby wasps on Koromiko buds.
Baby wasps from a local nest love unopened buds on a Koromiko plant.
Dianthus Delight.
A liberal Greek translation of the genus title “Dianthus” is flower of the gods. I thought it referred to the two prominent twirly bits sticking up.
Euphorbia Milii buds and bud launchers.
Studying plants for a bit of fun is one thing, plants surviving in my care long enough is another.
Osteospermum deepish purple.
Seven days in the life of Osteospermum 3D.
Cleopatra’s needle, an early granite build.
Ancient Romans used to visit even more ancient Egypt on expensive package tours. If they were underwhelmed by the view a graffiti artist in the party left a comment for everyone who followed to marvel at. An early “trip advisor”rating.