Hi from NZ

[Jandals]

My name is Steve Newall aka Jandals (flip-flops) . I live near Balclutha which is in the lower half of the South Island in NZ . I grow perennials for seed production and  I try and get out and about in the hills here  to see our alpines.

I have spent a bit of time in the USA . On the longest trip I returned my Avis rental car with an additional 17 500 miles on the odometer . My favourite places are Medicine Bow Peak WY and Teanaway River WA . I also like Leavenworth WA because I can buy vegemite at the australian shop . Hope to post some pictures of future trips to the US and ask for help on ID's . Will also try to get to a meeting or two .

[Hoy]

Welcome on board, Steve!

Do you collect seed from native NZ plants for swapping/selling?

[RickR]

Hello Steve, and Welcome!

Please join in, and don't hesitate to bring New Zealand (and photos) into the conversation.   We all grow (or try to grow) plants from other continents.    There is hardly better advice/experience than from the source!

[Lori S.]

Welcome, Steve!  I'm looking forward to your postings!

Vegemite... brrrr!  You know, it is available here in the stores, but I've never had the nerve to try it!  Am I missing out on a life-altering experience?   

[Hoy]

Vegemite, is it a kind of green dynamite

[Jandals]

Nice to be on board Hoy . Started collecting a few alpine seeds this past season and really enjoyed it . Will do it again this year but I will only try to collect the unusual or hard to get . And no , it is a black dynamite and gets you in the gut 

Hi Rick . I may do one or two pictures from NZ but Dave Toole is doing an excellent job . If you look very carefully at his already posted pictures you may see a fat blob in a blue jacket . That's me .

I tried out an American on vegemite once Lori and she said she had never tasted anything so awful . It may well have altered her life . Have enjoyed your hiking blogs

[Booker]

We meet again Steve ... you just can't escape me can you? LOL.
To those of you unfamiliar with Steve's past, he has collected superb seed of some of his country's finest high alpine plants and distributed them far and wide. He was his nation's number one seed collector for many years and the first port of call for any serious grower of NZ alpines. He has lectured across the world and toured Europe on a number of occasions. And boy does he enjoy a good malt!

[Spiegel]

"Finest high alpine plants ....".  Hmmmmmmm, do I smell a ranunculus or two?

[McDonough]

I also like Leavenworth WA because I can buy vegemite at the australian shop . Hope to post some pictures of future trips to the US and ask for help on ID's . Will also try to get to a meeting or two .

Hello Steve, welcome to the NARGS Forum!  I too like Leavenworth, a bit "touristy" at first glance looking like a Bavarian village replica in Eastern Washington, yet it's a great place to stay as home base to explore the mountains, drylands, and wonderful flora of Eastern Washington.  I have fond memories of several places we stayed in Leavenworth, and good food too, and of course the great scenery and plants.  Looking forward to your posts here on the forum.

[Booker]

"Finest high alpine plants ....".  Hmmmmmmm, do I smell a ranunculus or two?

Got it in one Anne ... you know me too well!   

[Tim Ingram]

Steve - thanks for seed of New Zealander's in the past. I remember your lecture at the Edinburgh Conference, just brilliant, and picked up a few tips on what might grow in our dry south-east garden. Look forward to hearing more of NZ alpines, a fascination since I picked up Philipson and Hearn's book as a student in London.

[Jandals]

Cliff ,when I read your first post I thought to myself "That's going to cost me a few high quality , high alpine buttercup seeds " . It appears that others have seen through your thinly disguised platitudes and have unveiled your darstardly plans . Nice to talk again and hope the eyes are well .

Mr Onion Man - Howdy . You will be pleased to know that this year I have alliums for the first time . A seed tray of A.christophii and another with A.beesiana .Also hopefully posted a picture of my brother-in-law , who was masquerading as navigator and I have just asked him "Why are we not in America anymore "



Tim - nice to hear from you and good luck with the expat kiwis and hope you enjoy the trip north

[Schier]

Hi there, welcome! I'm new as well, I certainly enjoy this forum and everyone here..
I haven't been posting much, but I hope to change that as the fall rolls on.
** I have some Vegemite in the cupboard that I received from a friend, but haven't worked up the nerve to try it yet...

[Jandals]

Howdy . You have to be careful with vegemite as I am sure it matures with age . Maybe being a by-product of beer brewing has something to do with it . Anyway the older it gets the tastier it gets

[Schier]

Tastier you say??? Oh my, it will be a surprise! Still, I will try it!