Popping up not long after the daffodils, a native sign of NZ spring is the puawānanga (clematis paniculata). Along our street, the vine climbs mānuka branches to vye for sunlight, the trees crowned with white flowers.
Clematis paniculata 
Puawānanga in a mānuka tree
Puawānanga was said to be the child of the stars Puanga (Rigel in Orion) and Rehua (Antares in Scorpio). In some traditions, the appearance of Puanga signalled winter and Rehua summer – puawānanga trees flowered in the months between them.
Te Ara
The cherry tree above the jungly bank blossomed spectacularly until the wind blasted through this week, scattering confetti across the deck. We also made a nocturnal journey to Kaitoke to see illuminated blooms.
Jungly bank cherry tree 
Night time sakura at Aston Norwood
Sprocket now knows being instructed “sit” usually means he’s near a good plant and will be starring in yet another botanical portrait. This month he’s been posing next to golden kōwhai flowers at the Botanic Gardens and crimson rātā at Ōtari.
Cable car kōwhai 
Crimson rātā
kōwhai 
Sprocket seems inspired by horticulture!
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