These photos were all taken between late December 2006 and mid-January 2007. Pohutukawa trees have been blooming quite impressively this summer, some trees more so than others. From what I hear, a pohutukawa that flowers well one year may not flower quite as well the next. It varies from one tree to the next. Some of the trees shown below are in 'full bloom', whilst others aren't quite as spectacular (perhaps it's their year off!). Thereagain, some might have not quite reached full bloom when they were photographed.

The first ten pics were taken in Tawa between 11th-18th January. The following two shots are still in the Wellington region. The last three are somewhat further north, photographed a couple of days after Christmas 2006.

To see "A Blaze of Red" - pohutukawa in bloom in January 2003 - click here.

- Malcolm Sparrow