...long live the King, Part I

Just as I mourned the transitioning of the once mighty, colourful Strelitzia (aka Bird of Paradise) flower into a mess of dung-coloured remains, what should emerge from among the fronds at the bottom of the plant but a brand spanking new flower stalk - smooth-skinned, sea-green and bolt upright, making a bee-line straight for the sun.
It's early days yet, but the stalk has already reached about the half-way mark of its full height. But no sign yet of the splitting apart at the pointed  top of the stalk, which marks the beginning of the long, slow reveal of the Bird of Paradise flower curled up inside. 
As it starts to split open, the top section of the stalk turns into a muted flamingo pink, while performing a gentle near-90 degree turn to form a horizontal platform from which the flower can emerge.
More to come at the next stage of the big reveal.