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NZ Christmas Trss


NZ Christmas Trss
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3155 W: 238 N: 7042] (28411)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-08
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Artwork
Camera: Canon EOS 30D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/8, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): New Zealand Scenes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-08 1:22
Viewed: 522
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is our New Zealand Christmas Tree:

Metrosideros excelsa
Pohutukawa [po-hoo-ta-car-wa]
Pohutukawa (Maori) ‘drenched with mist’ or ‘splashed by spray’.

Commonly known as "The New Zealand Christmas Tree", because around Christmas-time it smothers itself with masses of brilliant crimson to deep blood-red flowers. Pohutukawa flowers appear to be composed only of stamens, giving them their distinctive brush-like look.

Pohutukawas are a coastal tree; they thrive near the sea, easily withstanding strong winds, salt spray and drought and are rarely found inland unless planted. The tree hardly ever grows straight and is more likely to have many short trunks with tortuous branches. Usually found growing on cliffs with the branches sometimes reaching in the water (occasionally even found with oysters growing on the branches) and the great roots spread along the cliff-face above.

Right now these wonderful trees are coming out in blossom. They don’t always appear at the same time, so as one tree stops flowering others are beginning to open. In a really good season we can have a colourful display for around 6-8 weeks.

The petals are small and hairy-backed, the most conspicuous part of the flower being the crimson-stalked stamens which may reach 5cm in length. Each ring of stamens surrounds a calyx funnel filled to overflowing with viscous nectar that is much sought after by honeybees and birds. Flowers appear in December and January and whitish seed capsules follow the flowers and open around May to release multitudes of thin, brown seeds which ripen by the following spring.

I took this photo at Point Wells, an hour north of where I live, today. It’s the first time I’ve been to Point Wells, and apart from these beautiful Pohutukawa trees lining the upper reaches of the inlet of Whangateau Harbour, there really wasn’t anything else to see. We’d been to a local café for lunch and to see a local photo exhibition.

Point Wells is located around 1 1/2 hours north from the centre of Auckland and is surrounded by the beautiful Whangateau Harbour, gateway to Omaha Bay and beyond. It is a great location for beaches, golf, estuaries, jetties, boat ramps - a boating paradise with fishing, canoeing, sailing and surfing all available. You will find the surrounding area fascinating to explore with numerous wineries, restaurants, cafes and beaches all in close proximity. Just 4km down the road is the very popular village of Matakana, which along with a well-patronised farmers market now boasts an up-market village centre including shops and a cinema complex.
sway, tjutjut, ayse51, Janone, Silke, dareco, chrisJ, Refugee, Viking, pozaru has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tjutjut: YesJanice 1 12-08 01:44
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Janice,

What a lovely tree! . . I like the red flowers on green leaf . .
Very well composed . .
Is it only bloom during Christmas?

Tfs,
Tjutjut

  • Great 
  • Janone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3445 W: 96 N: 3035] (19568)
  • [2007-12-08 3:20]

Hello Janice.
Beautiful tree it is. Much more lovelier that the ordinairy Christmas tree we have here. Much easier too.!
Not needed to hang all kind of colour full things in it. haha
Besides, notting wrong with a nice and warm Christmas season.
Nice picture and thanks for the interesting notes.
Kia Ora en groetjes uit Holland.
Jan

  • Great 
  • WMcK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 11 N: 1718] (6835)
  • [2007-12-08 4:21]

Simply stunning Janice. Beautiful colour and perfect composition. Needless to say, not the kind of Christmas tree I am used to. Great detail. Simply lovely.
Regards
Wanda

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1264 W: 17 N: 629] (11529)
  • [2007-12-08 15:59]

WOW!! This is a fantastic tree!!! GORGEOUS!!! Another really great picture Janice. TFS

Hi Janice,
Beatiful,congratulation.
Best regards,
Ralf

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3715 W: 216 N: 3721] (28231)
  • [2007-12-09 0:23]

Hi Janice

I bought some honey made from Pohutukawa, when I was last in Auckland, & it was delicious. I like the attractive red colour of the flowers. Good sharpness & tfs.

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1147 W: 62 N: 806] (12527)
  • [2007-12-09 0:34]

Hi Janice,
beautiful tree.I liked harmony of the red and green.TFS.Necla.:)later.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3116 W: 280 N: 6312] (24123)
  • [2007-12-09 1:41]

The colours of the tree are classic Christmas colours, Janice -- wonderful to see how other traditions are formed in places far from that where the Christ child was born
TFS
silke
:D
And thanks for your kind words on my "Freaky Friday Face"

Hi Janice, it would appear as though the weather you have been having is very similar to ours of late. A lovely image, well composed with good colour and detail. TFS,
David

Many thanks for your comment on ‘North Esk Views’

Merry Christmas from Perry Ho Ho Hooter Janice !!!!

Definitely a strange Christmas tree for us up North. But I agree with you , it is really spectacular as it is Naturally fully dressed for the occasion.

Great illustration and note.
Thanks for the valuable info.
Cheers!
Robert

  • Great 
  • sway Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 92 W: 2 N: 26] (341)
  • [2007-12-10 0:58]

Hi Janice,

Great shot of our Christmas tree. Great to see the brilliant colour. Miss them down here south of the Bombay Hills
:-)

  • Great 
  • ttreen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1553 W: 119 N: 3630] (14840)
  • [2007-12-10 13:55]

Hello Janice!
Perfect tree for our upcoming Holidays...
Even nature knows it time to get ready! :)

Enjoy


Tricia

  • Great 
  • Viking Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 63 N: 782] (4383)
  • [2007-12-10 20:46]

Lovely and really nice capture of this shot.

  • Great 
  • pozaru Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3308 W: 679 N: 2086] (16647)
  • [2007-12-11 1:44]

wow, what a beauty !!!


thanks a lot,
v

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