Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

Categories: Nature |

Lake Tekapo is the second largest of three roughly parallel lakes located between north and south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The lake is a real photographer's dream, with mountains and snow-capped peaks, a turquoise blue lake and a charmingly beautiful little church. Every year from mid-November to December, the beauty is enhanced by the colorful blooms of the lupins.

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

1. Russell's lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) is an exotic plant that can grow up to 1.5 meters in height. This is a permanent variety, the seeds are planted in summer, dying off for the winter, only to reappear the following summer.

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

2. Russell lupins have long, colorful flower heads.

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

3. Flowers are like peas and have many colors - blue, purple, orange, yellow, pink, white, or a mixture of two colors.

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

4. The leaves, divided into processes, resemble the fingers on the hand. The robust seed heads ripen and explode in the summer heat, releasing many dark brown seeds.

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

5. Russell's lupins were planted in 1950 by Connie Scott at Godley Peak when the seed was scattered along the sides of the main highway. These tall thorns now grow in abundance along many roadsides, open areas around villages, and throughout the Mackenzie scenic area. The variety of colors makes the stunning area of Lake Tekapo a photographer's paradise.

Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Colorful lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo

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Keywords: Lake | Flowers

     

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