New Zealand Christmas trees

The Pohutukawa is known as the New Zealand Christmas tree because it flowers around Christmas time and it has bright red flowers against green foliage.

There are various comments made about the flowering period. It is said that if the Pohutukawa flower early then it means a long, hot summer.

This year the Pohutukawa in my area are flowering abundantly right now. Everywhere I look there are trees bursting with red flowers, while some have a pink toning and yet others flower with yellow flowers. It is the brilliant red ones that are so striking.

Pohutukawa trees grow particularly well in New Zealand, especially near beaches but also in urban gardens, parks and road sides. Our native birds love the nectar in the flowers, the honey bees adore them and I learnt last night that Monarch butterflies feast on these flowers. Nature meets many needs at the same time putting on a magnificent display for us to enjoy.

On Saturday I took some photos of Pohutukawa. I hope you enjoy them.

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Growth opportunities in 2012 e-book

I have a special gift offer for you today. It is a free e-book “Opportunities for personal growth – Grow and Flourish in 2012”

My friend and colleague Marian Kerr has collated, edited and published this e-book. No easy task to encourage and cajole contributors to meet mid December deadlines and then to put the e-book together in time for the early new year.

Around 15 different writers, coaches, leaders, educators have contributed their thoughts and wisdom on personal growth and ways to facilitate this. I hope you will enjoy the e-book and feel free to pass it on to anyone who you think would enjoy it or benefit from it. There is no cost or charge attached to it. It is simply a gift.

For those of you who have been following my blog ( and thank you for doing that!) you may read my pieces and think “this is familiar”. You would be correct. With a family wedding on 24th December I had no spare time to write fresh material on personal growth so Marian edited some blog posts of mine as my contribution. I think she has done a great job on them.

If you would like a copy of the e-book emailed to you please contact me: qdeckchapman at clear dot net dot nz

I will also post information about the e-book on the “New” page on my blog.

Grow well!!