Spring is sprung

New seasons bring new beginnings and none more so than the season of Spring. The native kōtukutuku, Fuchsia excorticata, or tree fuchsia is deciduous here and is easily identified by its orange/brown peeling bark. New leaf buds burst through in late winter providing a welcome source of food for the birds, especially tūī and kererū.

I'm pretty sure this next photo is patē, Schefflera digitata, seven-finger but I need to check the plant again as I can't make out the edge clearly in the photo (it should be finely toothed).

Hand-shaped Schefflera digitata leaves with 3-9 fingers. Often confused with
Five-finger, Pseudopanax arboreus, which can have 5-7 leaflets.

Makomako, Aristotelia serrata, wineberry, has well-defined toothed leaves, hence the Latin word for serrated in the botanical name.

Kōwhai ngutu-kākā, Clianthus puniceus, Kaka beak, is a native plant that has been introduced to Stewart Island/Rakiura. It grows well here and provides nectar for the birds.

Kaka beak Sep12 with new bright-green Spring growth

Close-up showing the new leaf growth in the centre