Ferndown Track

page 2

I am interested in this fern, where the pinnae at the bottom rotate around the base of the frond towards one another.

No problems here today. The sticks are useful in providing stability while I find out which stepping stones are solid enough to carry me without tipping.

Up the other side, the track becomes rocky and I need to watch my step a little. As we move away from the stream, the vegetation becomes more scrubby and open again.

A couple of Waitakere curses put in the first of a number of experiences:

Ginger, and

honeysuckle. There's another plant which I don't have a name for that also looks as though it could have a high nuisance value if unchecked:

(And I'm right. This is Himalayan Honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa, a listed pest plant, a vigorous grower and a light blocker that where it is present prevents the growth of other species.)

Also quite common along this track is pigeonwood

We're still doing quite a lot of wading through wet long grass, and emerge into quite a large grassy clearing. A splash of colour in the middle draws our attention to a patch of foxgloves.

A huge old karaka tree occupies the far corner, it's leaves shining in the sun.

There's also a mahoe, thickly covered in new season's flowers.

and a lovely weeping rimu

We pass a ferny glade and we're into the bush proper

The sudden arrival of nikau, for me, turns the scrub into bush

A small, lonely clematis heads towards the light.