New Year Greeting

New Year Greeting, originally uploaded by maxful.

The Firewheel (Stenocarpus sinuatus) is one of Queensland's robust rainforest trees. Each 'wheel'  consists of a number of pencil slim flowers containing male and female parts that spring open in order that pollination may occur. Magical. Firewheel manages to bloom right on cue for Christmas and flames into New Year. At least, that's the cycle here, Down Under. A member of the Protea family it's my favourite way of sending Season's Greetings and all good wishes for 2012 onwards.