October has been a real delight; in particular I can’t remember seeing such an amazing profusion of peas.
In November I am expecting the unexpected…wondering which earlier spring flowers will linger longer, and which summer plants will flower early. I am hoping that the Grass Triggerplant Stylidium graminifolium will ‘linger longer’ as it’s erect stem with spike of pale pink or white flowers is always a delight to see, and sometimes occurs in massed displays.
![Grass Triggerplant Grass Triggerplant](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/grass-triggerplant.jpg)
Grass Triggerplant
It is often mixed with the gorgeous mauve Chocolate Lily Arthropodium strictum.
![Chocolate Lily Chocolate Lily](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/chocolate-lily.jpg)
Chocolate Lily
In the Allen Noble Sanctuary a late spring plant Long Purple-flag Patersonia occidentalis which has a spectacular flower with three large purple petals has already finished. Maybe you will find it elsewhere!
![Long Purple-flag Long Purple-flag](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/long-purple-flag.jpg)
Long Purple-flag
However Common Everlasting Chrysocephalum apiculatum with its small clusters of brilliant-yellow papery flowers, and soft grey-green foliage, is looking quite stunning.
![Common Everlasting Common Everlasting](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/common-everlasting.jpg)
Common Everlasting
Also our native Pelargonium called Austral Stork’s-bill Pelargonium australe is growing well in the sanctuary.
![Austral Stork’s-bill Austral Stork’s-bill](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/austral-storks-bill.jpg)
Austral Stork’s-bill
In the wetter areas such as Moggs Creek, the tall shrub, Musk Daisy-bush Olearia argophylla is springing into flower with its large clusters of white flower-heads. I always like to look at, and feel, the silvery, hairy undersides of the long, wide leaves.
![Musk Daisy-bush Musk Daisy-bush](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/musk-daisy-bush.jpg)
Musk Daisy-bush
In the same area the tall shrub or small tree, Hazel Pomaderris P.aspera is ready to display its massed bunches of tiny yellow-green flowers. Many plants at this time of year are hands-and-knees jobs. If you come across the tiny white flowers of the Sweet Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum sauveolens be sure and get down for a smell…I guarantee it will be worth the effort.
![Sweet Hound’s-tongue Sweet Hound’s-tongue](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/sweet-hounds-tongue.jpg)
Sweet Hound’s-tongue
This time of year is a good time to spy plant pollinators. On a recent walk I saw a Hover Fly on the flowers of a number of low-growing plants such as the well-known pale-pink Cut-leaf daisy Brachyscome multifida. The indigenous daisy is sightly smaller and less colourful than many we grow in our gardens.
![Cut-leaf daisy Cut-leaf daisy](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cut-leaf-daisy.jpg)
Cut-leaf daisy
Another daisy, but white with prickly foliage, Prickly Starwort Stellaria pungens was also attracting Hover Flies, as was our yellow native Wood-sorrel Oxalis exilis.
![Prickly Starwort Prickly Starwort](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/prickly-starwort.jpg)
Prickly Starwort
![Wood-sorrel Wood-sorrel](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/wood-sorrel.jpg)
Wood-sorrel
I can’t finish without mentioning everyone’s favourite November flower Blue Pincushion Brunonia australis . The single bright-blue, circular, flower-heads or ‘pincushions’ have narrow, soft (also worth feeling) spoon-shaped pale-green leaves forming a rosette at the base of the stems.
![Blue Pincushion Blue Pincushion](https://angair.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/blue-pincushion.jpg)
Blue Pincushion
Remember to carry ‘Flowers of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet’ on your walks…I wonder what you will see?
Ellinor Campbell