New Zealand: Koromiko flowering
Another plant we saw at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary northeast of Dunedin on February 27th was this flowering koromiko bush (Veronica salicifolia, formerly Hebe salicifolia). A raised walkway let me look straight down onto the top of this attractive shrub. Thanks to Sue Hensley, head guide at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, for identifying the species.
If you’d like a closer look at a flower spike from another Hebe species, you can check out a photograph from our first visit to New Zealand.
© 2017 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
That’s great. I’ve most definitely not seen that here in California 🙂
Robert Cox
May 16, 2017 at 12:15 PM
Well, New Zealand’s pretty far from California, even if both border the Pacific Ocean.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2017 at 2:36 PM
Heh, I want to hear those kookeburras, live, in Australia. Quite a clamor I understand.
Robert Cox
May 17, 2017 at 12:24 PM
That’s cool looking! Nice image!
Reed Andariese
May 16, 2017 at 12:27 PM
The unusual vantage point from above made this possible. I’m glad you like it.
Steve Schwartzman
May 16, 2017 at 2:37 PM
What a great abstraction — it’s a galaxy of plants. This view made me think of starfish, or Texas stars, or Texas bluestar, but the linked photos and your photograph of the flowers from your previous trip aren’t star-like at all. Perspective is everything, I suppose. Clearly, it’s the leaves, seen from above, that seem star-like.
Does it have a fragrance? If it does, I hope it’s pleasant. With that many flowers, it seems it might be overpowering.
shoreacres
May 16, 2017 at 9:41 PM
There is something galactic, or better yet starfishish, about this view, isn’t there?
As you say, if this many flowers did give off a scent, it would have been hard not to smell it, yet I don’t recall a scent. Maybe I was too busy composing my abstract pictures to notice, or maybe there was no aroma.
Steve Schwartzman
May 17, 2017 at 5:32 AM
Good to have some local knowledge. I saw something similar and wondered about it, and left it at that.
Lignum Draco
May 17, 2017 at 7:54 AM
Two advantages of photographing at an institution like Orokonui are that some species have identifying signs, and there are people who might be able to identify the unmarked species.
Steve Schwartzman
May 17, 2017 at 11:49 AM
I like the straight down, all-over pattern view.
bluebrightly
May 21, 2017 at 12:07 PM
Yes, that’s what grabbed me, too. That sort of view of a bush isn’t one I often get.
Steve Schwartzman
May 21, 2017 at 11:19 PM