Reuben and I went for a drive out to Piha yesterday and as I was driving a flash of orange at the side of the road caught my eye. Rata!! I’ve never been able to get up to one so close and personal when in flower! Probably because they only flower every 3 – 5 years!
I haven’t started to research what this is called, or what kind of plant it is!
It really pongs! Atracts flies! (they were scared off by my presence)
Something from outer Space!
A hedge of these are outside Valentine’s Restaurant in Lincoln Road, Henderson, where we celebrated Amber’s boyfriend, Thomas’s Birthday!
My business partner and I went down to Hastings for the day and had time for a trip to the summit of Te Mata Peak.
Wild Koromiko (Hebe) growing on the cliff face!
Plantain
PennyRoyal
On the road down to French Bay.
Reminds me of the wild Bouganvillias in Far North Queensland (Australia) that would shoot up the huge Mango trees.
Steaks of brilliant colour on the edge of the coastal rainforest.
French Bay has an amazing regrowth of Kauri from wild seedlings sprouted after the saw millers came through 150 years ago.
The Wild Carrot really proliferates after some clearing or cultivation has occurred.
They are quite tall and have lovely filigree flowers up to 10cm across.
We are blest with having a lot of Bees around at the moment.
Seems to be more Bumble Bees on the Thistle flowers,
though we do do get Workers as well.
I suspect that these are from someones hive, rather than being feral bees.
From what I”ve heard all the feral hives around here have been wiped out by the Veroa Mite.
Mr Bumble with a coating of pollen!
Quite a number of sider nest around at the moment with this one located in a small papyrus plant.
