Wild raddish in the depths of Kumeu.
Hermaphroditic, but can’t form offspring with itself. Insects have to get involved to help out. Technically it is pollination.
I’m turning into that succulent guy,
I rescued unhappy succulents and put them in a new home.
Lithops, center-front, underwent surgery a while back. Hacked to pieces so i could see the internals.
Swatting a fly is tricky, but drones, not so much.
Insects are highly maneuverable flying machines.
An elegant dragon fly detoured through our lounge. It flew through the open slider and circled the room. It hovered briefly in front of me, waved goodbye, then flew into the sunlight.
I have my eyes on you, lots of them. The cicada’s eye view.
Distinctive clicking sounds alerted me before I saw this wee critter. Further down the street, towards the trees, sounds from the massed cicada gathering were deafening.
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.
Begonia Masoniana revived.
This plant made a full recovery after sucking up a glass of water..
Turns out my latest cactus is a succulent.
It’s taking longer to become a Botanist than I anticipated. Despite the telltale spines, Euphorbia Aeruginosa is a succulent.
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.
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.
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.
El Penon de Guatape
Not far from Guatape, Columbia stands this massive structure carved painstakingly from igneous intrusions dating from the late Cretacdeous 70 million years ago.
Poppy Seeds.
Pollen grains land on the stigma crown before sending pollen grains into the ovary where they deposit sperm cells in an egg.
Calceolaria flowers, bright bursts of yellow hitting retinas and CMOS sensors.
Bright reds and yellows mixed with dull greens.
Why do some colours have a powerful visual impact?
It turns out that specialised, light sensitive cone cells packed onto retinas are responsible.
Hibiscus magic
Giant exploding plate-sized blooms.
This hibiscus bud opened properly in the late evening with a rapid burst before dawn. The flower must be open for business early to catch the first pollinators. It has a short shelf life.
The flower was at its best on that first day, fading on the second and dropping off on the third.
Calceolaria flowers say “come to the party.”
All is not as it seems. Calceolaria has followed an evolutionary path less often followed.
Lachenalia, pretty flowers and an old camouflage jacket.
Bright yellow flower tubes hanging around for a pollinator. Large dark dots cover the leaves and spike like a camouflage jacket.
Streptocarpus Parviflorum with delicate blue flowers is worth a second look.
I bought this plant on a whim. It looked tired and jaded and past its best in the plant shop. It did have several curled-up stems that were beginning to grow; I felt sorry for it. The flower has an unusual stigma and anther configuration. I’ll leave it alone and have a closer look later. Our new cat, Freddy, has also taken a closer look. He broke several flower stems in the process.
A solitary green bottle with onboard advanced drone technology.
My tiny vegetable garden has many surprises.
Dallying with Dahlias
Dally for a while, and look closely at this dahlia plant.
Cyclamen flowers and seed pods.
Cyclamen flowers bloom forever, and fresh buds pop up regularly. My small pot plant from the local Palmers Gardenworld is providing a beautiful display of colour during our winter.
Change happens slowly. The flower drops its petals, and the seed pod develops. What lies inside?
Thought I’d have a look rather than google it.