Re: New Zealand Climates (was (Metrosideros) Bloom seasons ..

olwen wrote:
Tony and Moira Ryan wrote:

They certainly might be better adapted to a cooler climate than ones from our northern parts. As far as I can tell the local plants are all pure M excelsa anyway, as I have never seen any tedancy to diffuse flowering locally nor for that matter any M kermadecensis offered in our local garden centres..

In the 1980's M kermadecensis was certainly for sale in the Wellington area. I remember a friend buying one for his mother (yellow flowered with variegated leaves - a novelty, but probably not a real beauty), and I have read a suggestion that some of the earlier flowering specimens (early December) probably have some kermadecensis in their heritage.

Hi Olwen
Nice to hear you are still flourishing!
I was obviously rather too sweeping in my dismissal of M kermadecensis, but I don't have the impression it has had a great deal of impact here apart from perhaps that variegated form. it would be pity I think if it seriously "contaminated" the local species as that once in a season burst of bloom is so spectacular.

I do wonder if those early-flowering ones are really anything more than a natural variant of the species anyhow. in California its main effect seems to be to encourage many sporadic but individually much reduced displays throughout the season and do away with that glorious midsummer burst of colour..

I would rather expect in any case it is a bit too tender to do well in this area, though probably perfectly happy in the north.

 > How low are the rainfall totals in that South Island rain shadow?
 > What is the range of summer/winter temps in that continental-type
 > climate? What city(-ies) would best represent either or both
 > phenomena?

Alexandra (a town rather than a city) in Central Otago has an average rainfall of 360mm.
Milford Sound on the West Coast (definately NOT a city), but pretty close to central Otago in a straight line (you have to drive through a long tunnel) has an average annual rainfall of 6749mm.

These are both good examples which I did not think to mention,of the difference, both for rainfall and summer temperatures, but when I come to think of it Christchurch is also pretty striking if our personal experience is taken into account, as we happen to have managed two visits which embraced the opposite extremes. On both occasions we were driving up from Dunedin (which of course means, for the benfit of our overseas friends, we had to traverse a good deal of the plains country). On the first occasion it was February and high summer and the temperature by midday had reached 38 degrees C (100F) which continued right into the city. On the second occasion it was August and winter, just after a heavy snowfall and during the entire trip we were running through a freezing snowy landscape with piles of ploughed snow on both sides of the highway. When we reached Christchurch our grandsons had built a snowman and the snow then lingered on for another few days with odd drifts still not melted when we left a week later.

This may seem a commonplace seasonal difference to those of you who live in many parts of the USA, but is quite unusual I should think in a temperate sea island the size of South Island..

> My town, Blenheim in Marlborough is has an average of 655mm, helped by some larger mountains.

We have passed through Blenheim many times and spent a night there with friends once in high summer. My main impression is of yellow grass on the hills, heat and masses of sunshine. I believe it has the highest number of sunshine hours in the whole country. How have your summers been recently though? Our last two have been a dead loss, the only time we seem to get reliable sunshine is after the start of Autumn (such as today - lovely!).

There is a rainfall map at http://www.niwa.cri.nz/ncc/mapping/annual0050_large.jpg/view
and an excellent overview at
http://www.niwa.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/overview/ which is where I am quoting figues from

Wiil note these thanks, much more up-to-date figures than mine I have no doubt.

Cheers
Moira

-
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ.     Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004

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