Lupins on the shores of Lake Tekapo in New Zealand

© Stanislav Kachyna/Shutterstoc

Invaders of the lake. How lupins invaded Lake Tekapo

Lupins usually hit peak bloom from mid-November in the Mackenzie region on New Zealand's South Island. This image shows the burst of colour along the shores of Lake Tekapo, famed for its annual lupin blooms. Carpets of purples, pinks, blues and whites look stunning and draw admiring visitors. But lupins hail from North America and in New Zealand, they're considered an invasive species which crowds out native flora, ruining the habitat for birds like the wrybill, banded dotterel and other species living near the water.

Beloved by some, deplored by others, lupins are said to have taken hold here thanks to local resident Connie Scott. As the story goes, back in the 1950s, Scott scattered lupin seeds along a main highway to add some colour to the barren landscape and the blooms have been spreading ever since. Scott's remembered these days as the 'Lupin Lady'. A beautiful legacy? It depends on where you stand on lupins.