SPRING IS HERE !

The Kowhai is the national flower of New Zealand and when the Kowhai trees flower you know it's springtime, (just like the daffodils in England)
It is pronounced: “KO-FI” because in Maori, the letters “WH” are pronounced as an “F” and it means 'yellow'. The tree and especially the flowers are poisonous and it is native to New Zealand.
Their nectar is a favourite food for Tui and Kereru (wood pigeon).



It is said that to Kowhai sprung from the shreds of the cloak of tohunga Ngatoro-I-rangi of the Te Arawa canoe on its arrival to New Zealand.

The myth behind it tells the story of a young tohunga asking a girl to marry him while they were sitting under the bare branches of a Kowhai tree in the month of August.
She replied that she would only marry if he could perform some brilliant act.
The young tohunga said "I will show you what I can do. I will cause this tree to spring instantly into flower before your eyes".
Then he used all his powers and made the tree burst into yellow bloom. His final touch caused a ring of yellow blossoms to appear around the dark hair of the girl.
Ever since, say Te Arawa, the Kowhai has flowered on bare and leafless branches.