The Pohutukawa Trees are in Full Bloom

By Val
@valmnz (17097)
New Zealand
December 19, 2018 1:02pm CST
One thing I look forward to each summer is seeing our native pohutukawa trees in full bloom. The tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas tree as it flowers in December, our summer, and is around it's best at Christmas. It's really a coastal tree, but these days can be found inland if the conditions are right. This year the trees throughout the country are an even more vibrant colour than usual. Experts have put this down to the alternate rain and warm weather we've been having, creating the right soil conditions for it. The red flowers certainly add a festive atmosphere to the summer. This photo is not mine, I found it on pixabay.
16 people like this
18 responses
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
These are lovely trees but I find NZ 'native' words very hard to pronounce. Some Australian ones are bad enough but NZ seems even harder.
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
20 Dec 18
Try por-who-too-car-wa
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
21 Dec 18
@JudyEv just say it a bit faster than you probably did I struggle with many Australian names, but I guess they are just broken into syllables too.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340489)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 18
@valmnz por-who-too-car-wa Got it. That wasn't so hard.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Dec 18
Those are the perfect trees for Christmas. So glad they bloomed. No way can I pronounce that name!
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
21 Dec 18
Easy when you break it up - say por-who-too-car-wa
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
22 Dec 18
@DianneN Maori pronunciation of vowels. a = ar, e = e as in hen, i = ee, o = or, u = oo, so.... ar, e, ee, or, oo
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Dec 18
@valmnz How do you get por from po?
1 person likes this
Marja
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
19 Dec 18
What a beautiful tree - another work of art, that our loving Creator has made..
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
it is a lovely tree.
1 person likes this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
19 Dec 18
The name made me curious. Wow, it is a work of beauty.
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
It is a Maori name.
1 person likes this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
20 Dec 18
@valmnz Thanks for the explanation and I really liked the tree.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
19 Dec 18
How beautiful they are. I love my crimson red crepe myrtles. But these would be so nice in my yard. Enjoy your day!
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
Thanks. It's about 8.15 Thursday morning here.
2 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
@CarolDM it's like we live in different words isn't it!
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
19 Dec 18
@valmnz 1pm Wednesday here.
1 person likes this
Carmila Putri
@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)
• Bekasi, Indonesia
23 Dec 18
it's a very good tree
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
23 Dec 18
My favourite
Anna
@LadyDuck (471573)
• Switzerland
20 Dec 18
Those trees are beautiful, not only the color of the flowers, but also the shape.
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
19 Dec 18
That looks lovely there Val.Very nice
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
My favourite trees.
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (13049)
• Ireland
19 Dec 18
@valmnz They look rather imposing, like the Grandes Dames of trees.
1 person likes this
John Welford
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
20 Dec 18
The trees in the photo are notable for branching very near the base. Is this typical of this species?
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Dec 18
They are really quite beautiful!
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Dec 18
Try saying "pohutukawa" real fast over and over!
1 person likes this
Val
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
19 Dec 18
Not sure how you expect it to sound? The Maori pronunciation is por-who-too-car-wa
1 person likes this
Mugure Karen Wanjiru
@Karenmm (881)
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Dec 18
It sounds like a good view to look at...
Maverick Ashley Lenartson
@chattymaverick (32)
•
20 Dec 18
New Zealand is the place to move when you want to move to another country to live in and enjoy...it's an island from what I understand...
Always smiling
@allknowing (136775)
• India
19 Dec 18
Trees look magnificent when in bloom and your trees do justice. We have peltoforums and Gul Mohrs - excuse the spelling (lol)
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (106607)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Dec 18
Those are very pretty.
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
19 Dec 18
What a beautiful looking tree! I can see you sitting underneath it having a picnic!
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Dec 18
It's a beautiful tree.