Clematis in the New Zealand Bush

 

Puawhananga

Here is the puawhananga or New Zealand clematis growing wild in the bush.  This is one of seven varieties which grow naturally here, I have seen a beautiful green flowering one and also an alpine one but this is the most showy.  Clematis paniculata or puawhananga (flower of the skies) grows throughout the country in the bush, and is regarded as a harbinger of Spring by Maori.

 Across the valley on Waiheke Island I can see large showers of the white flowers, this plant is growing in the bush beside the cottage where we are staying.  It does particularly well here as there are no opossums on the Island.

 

 

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective blog

 

 

All images copy right Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 



Knitted Art at Gallery

A Mingled Yarn at Tivoli

 

A Mingled Yarn is now showing at Tivoli, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland.  The exhibition includes knitted work made over a number of years for different venues, it was hung on a glorious Spring day on Waiheke Island.

 

The puawananga or native clematis is flowering in the bush in cascades of white against the dark green foliage, a lovely sight which welcomes us here each year.

 

The work in this photo is called 'Slips' for obvious reasons, and was made for an Art Fair.

 

 

If you are visiting the Island Tivoli is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays 10am - 5pm and is in Pendragon Mall, 118b Ocean View Rd, Oneroa. A Mingled Yarn will be on until October.

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective

Tivoli website

 

All images copy right to Frances Jill Studd 2014