One of the many wonderful things about writing this blog is that I am slowly building up an invaulable record of what I did and when. Before I set off this morning for Hong Kong’s highest point, I looked back at my post ‘A Walk Around The Peak’ published in October 2013. I recalled then the threat of a boutique hotel development which would have brought traffic and disruption to the narrow circuit which runs around the summit. Happily, it seems plans to develop the historic mansion at 27 Lugard Road are in abeyance after the planning authority granted permission, only with such stringent conditions that the proposed establishment would have been impossible to run. Hooray I say! Hong Kong has quite enough building going on without needing to dispoil one of its star attractions.
Imagine my amazement when, at the foot of the driveway up to the controversial property, I found my very own post, printed and neatly laminated, pinned to the rockface. The only piece of anti-development propaganda written in English it had clearly been there since it was published. I had to wait my turn behind other curious walkers to re-read it. It brought a little tear to my eye to think that, in a city on the other side of the world, something I had written had encouraged those protesting against the plans. My words might even have made a small difference. I felt very proud.
A world away from the tumult that is Hong Kong city, there is no question that The Peak and the country parks which skirt around it are precious natural resources. From these lofty heights it’s easier to appreciate that almost three-quarters of Hong Kong’s territory is still countryside, supporting thousands of species of plants, birds and insects. A surprising number are found exclusively in this small area.
Whilst the weather in October is lovely for a Sunday stroll it’s not the best time to see the island’s many flowers in bloom. For that one needs to visit in March or April, when the revitalising mist and fog that shrouds The Peak during winter has worked its magic, encouraging trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to open their flowers in the spring sunshine.
At any time of year, if you walk slowly and open your eyes you are sure to spot something interesting on The Peak. I was pleased to find a single, solitary orchid growing out of a steep bank at the end of Harlech Road road near the Lung Fu Shan viewing point. Its tiny flowers, the size of my thumbnail, were a lovely clear yellow.
Nearby I spied what I first took to be a type of toadstool or fungus. (I apologise for its rather phallic appearance, but that’s nature for you.) Thinking it was unusual for a toadstool to have structures that looked like leaves around its base, I then found more of the same but with little white points which looked like they might have been some kind of flower. I have no idea what this might have been, but it was rather fascinating.
Remaining with the weird and wonderful for a moment, I suspected the tree pictured below might be an exotic interloper, the Brazilian grape tree, Plinia cauliflora. (If you know any better, please leave me a comment.) Bright green fruits emerged directly from the trunk and branches.
One particular small tree was flowering, although I think it might have been slightly confused by the seasons. This was Polyspora axillaris, also known as the Hong Kong Gordonia or fried egg tree. It has rather splendid orange bark which peals off in patches, a little like a London plane. Unlike camellias, to which Polsporas are related, the flowers drop off neatly when they die and create a pretty carpet on the ground. One would normally expect to see them flowering in winter rather than autumn.
With no vehicular interruption other than a pizza delivery man on a moped, the Peak Trail was left to the usual mix of energetic joggers, pocket-dog walkers, local ladies with over-sized sun visors and chattering tourists. This is how it should be. Lugard Road, once listed as one of Hong Kong’s ‘Eight Great Sceneries’ and romantically dubbed ‘the fairy bridge locked by the fog’ can only retain its magic if left largely un-trafficked. There is more than enough space for another chi-chi hotel elsewhere.
Categories: Beautiful Strangers, Flowers, Foliage, Musings, Photography, Plants, Travel, Trees and Shrubs
Oh my goodness – the power of the blog post by a qualified writer. 🙂 If you ever wondered if all the time you spend reporting on the beauty of Mother Nature was being absorbed, here is your answer in a very loud, positive voice. Reach around and pat yourself on the back. 🙂
I was flabbergasted Judy, I think that’s the only word for it. I was reading all the magazine articles and looking at the photos people had left of the road and mansion as they were when they were built. I started reading my own words and got quite some way before I realised I had written them! It was a very odd sensation seeing my own work under such unusual circumstances. Made my day!
That must have felt surreal. Well done for making a difference! Those pretty white flowers look like some kind of eucalyptus. Is that likely?
I think Anne got it right with Syzygium jambos, the rose-apple or champakka, which is a South East Asian tree. I agree the leaves do look a little eucalyptus-like.
Wow Dan. Next you will have an umbrella in your hand!!! How incredible to see your blog posted like this. I will send this link to Tony and Yves – they will be suitably impressed with your protesting efforts and I am sure will go and pay a visit to check. What a thrill.
And a second thrill – a clear day in HK to get a shot of one of the most magnificent views in the world. How different it must have been in the days of “Noble House’, and I wonder how it must have looked then, with junks rather than container ships plying the waters.
I love the vegetation in this part of the world – it is different and I agree with Frogend those flowers have a distinctive ‘aussie’ look about them but leaf doesn’t look familiar – natives not my speciality but I will see what I can find out. Has the look of a callistemon type of ‘petal’, but it isn’t one I have seen before.
Safe travels – see you soon!
I think Anne cracked it Helen. We have all learnt something new today!
Is it Syzygium jambos, a member of the myrtle family? Whatever it is its beautiful! Fancy seeing your own writing pinned up there…I can imagine it would have been quite surreal and I’m not surprised it made your day! Well done for highlighting the plight of this lovely area.
Well done Anne, you got it in one! That’s definitely what it was. Thank you for solving my puzzle.
Could the white fluffy flower belong to an Australian native species of the Myrtaceae family? Maybe Syzygium sp? I see Anne wrote jambos. There are some lovely rainforest sp, eg wilsonii. I live in Queensland, Australia, and it looks familiar! Yes, poor ID offering, I know! especially from an ex student of yours [VCAH Burnley Melbourne]
Regards, an avid reader of your blog, B
I think Anne nailed it Barbara. I wish I was better at tropical Asian trees. I usually bring an ID book with me, but this year I had too much to carry, including a book on greenhouse management. In retrospect, that too was rather ambitious!! So glad you enjoy my humble blog, thank you for saying so 🙂
The green fruited tree could be Ficus racemosa.
That is fantastic! I believe that little things we do have a bigger impact than we often know. Little kindnesses can go a long way for instance. Sometimes it just takes one person speaking out to let others know that they are not alone. Congratulations on making a difference in the world.
Well said, Lisa. Ditto!
Pleased to be of help when you haven’t a book to ID it in HK! Safe journeys!
I think the ‘Oo-er missus’ is one of the root parasites in the genus Balanophora possibly the species B.fungosa
Chad.
Balanophora harlandii is actually reported from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong.
Chad.
Well done that man! Much respect for your plant knowledge. I think you’re spot-on. Thank you for taking the trouble to give me the ID. Dan
Always a pleasure Dan.
I’m not so good on orchids though.
Spathoglottis pubescens or a near relative?
Chad.
I agree with Elizabeth that the cauliflorous tree is probably a fig. You can see the ostiole at the distal end of each fruit. F.racemosa usually has fruit on longer racemes [!] and I think this one may be Ficus fistulosa.
Chad.
Still working my way through your older posts. This one was amazing with your discovery of your own writing posted there. I love your explanation of reading the materials left there and starting to read your own before realizing it was yours. So great.
It was a very odd experience I have to say. It is amazing when something you do or say strikes a chord with others, especially if it’s on the other side of the world. Ultimately I am just happy the project has not gone ahead so that we can enjoy the same peaceful walk in years to come.