Full Flow

Generally I post a picture before I should; not when a plant is in its prime but as soon it signals that it is about doing something interesting.   Perhaps a single flower has opened or a bud is beginning to swell.  I imagine the great spectacle to come and the anticipation overwhelms.  What if all the buds fall off before they have a chance to shine?  What if this solitary flower is the season’s sole effort.   What if this lone bloom is eaten during the night by one of the prowling herbivores?  What if the whole plant gets eaten by one of our nocturnal guests?  It is a risk I can’t take.  So this is why I am a little previous with my show and tell, a combination of pessimism and eagerness.  Much later, when no disasters have befallen this plant and it is glorious in its plumptious prime, I regret my haste.  In December I presented a sparsely adorned twig of this Leptospermum “Red Ensign”, now you can see it in full flow.  Undoubtedly stunning and hopefully worth the long introduction.