The featured image shows a remarkably fresh-looking example of Anigozanthos bicolor, commonly known as “little kangaroo paw”.
On October 30 2023 there were many members of this species in bloom, but most of them looked “somewhat past their peak”.
(as one would expect in a year in which spring had “sprung” very early, and both September and October had delivered less rainfall and higher temperatures than they “should” have)
The individual pictured below was a more “representative” example, with colours less startlingly vivid – and its overall shape less “shapely” – than they likely would have been a fortnight earlier.
The details and textures on kangaroo paws (and cat’s paws) never cease to amaze me; they range from “velveteen” to “Velcro-esque”.
As you can probably see, blooming members of the genus Anigozanthos almost demand to be touched…very gently; I urge you to zoom in on/enlarge the pictured ‘roo paw.
This series’ next chapter features Anigozanthos bicolor one more time.
The camera will “nose in”, even closer.