Pohutukawa... Iconic New Zealand Christmas Tree...

Today @dide and I went for a drive out to see if we could find plenty of flowers on our native Pohutukawa ( Metrosidious Excelsa) It flowers around this time every year and makes a spectaclar sight around the Coastal parts of New Zealand .. This one looks a particularly old and gnarly specimen ... and looked great with the Hereford cattle in front of it ... looks a bit hazey in the backgound as this was taken during a much needed shower of rain ... which did not come to anything...

[Dianne]

Such a great NZ scene. A very nice image and great day out. Fav

[Sylvia Binch]

Great composition .. such a magnificent tree !

[Diane Judith]

Awesome photo . Nice to see Pohutukawa flowering.

[Babs]

Lovely composition, what a great looking tree. I love its gnarled branches, it has such character.

[Lesley Chisholm]

Beautiful shot, what a cool old tree.

[Margo]

This is a specially beautiful NZ shot love it FAV

[CoroJo]

This is just stunning!!! Where about's in NZ is it?

[Denise Wood]

FAVtastic :0

[julia]

@zeezee Northern part of the North Island Just South of Auckland ..

[Joan Robillard]

I love this shot.

[Carole G]

Beautiful Julia, a real kiwi scene. @zeezee is in Thames, and will know your area

[Nick]

Beautiful shot. Shame you couldn't hop over the fence and hang your bauble from it ;)

[Merrelyn]

What a magnificent old tree. Fav
Julia, can you tell me why it is that some Pohutukawa have thick aerial roots hanging from the branches and others don't?

[Lynda McG]

What a lovely tree and beautiful scene - fav!

[Diana]

An awesome capture of this magnificent scenery, FAV!

[julia]

@merrelyn think that comes with the age if the tree.. sometimes they need those roots to hang on to the cliff face..

[Pat Knowles]

Love this one! Beautiful Christmas tree & the cows are the icing on the cake! Fave.

[julia]

@happypat They must of been use to people stopping and getting photo's as they were quite happy to pose...

[~*~ Jo ~*~]

Lovely capture and setting fav!

[Lou Ann]

Such a great image! So beautiful!

[Jane Pittenger]

What an amazing tree

[*lynn]

amazing tree, excellent and beautiful capture ~ fav

[Kathryn]

Wow...another thing I've never seen before!

[Debbie]

What a spectacular tree and a beautiful country scene.

[Rachel]

Gorgeous shot!

[Joy's Focus]

Fabulous and fav!

[Jerome]

gorgeous
Fav!