Mutant Viper's Bugloss

It was very warm by the time the dogs and I got to the Taylor River this morning. Getting on for lunchtime, the light was quite harsh. For those overseas, here in New Zealand we are directly under a big hole in the ozone layer. This means that not only is our light very clear and clean but the sun burns very brightly. We are pretty much used to it and take precautions to prevent sunburn. Unaware visitors from the other side of the world can easily be caught out and get very sun-burnt is a short space of time.
I have been observing two Viper’s Bugloss plants growing alongside one of the tracks. Most of the Viper’s Bugloss plants are just past their best in colour due to recent hot dry days. However these particular two have mutated and instead of each having only one tall flower spike they have thickened, joined together stems resulting in a tightly bunched display of brilliant purple-ish blue flowers. This image shows the more spectacular of the two plants.
I am about to embark on the making of a Christmas cake this evening. Very late in the piece I know but I do love really rich Christmas cake….. So off I go to the kitchen now...