Unfortunately due to a breakdown in communication, it was a very small group of people who came along to join in what turned out to be a feast of our orchids, despite the fact that it was not warm enough to encourage the sun orchids to open.
Our first stop was at some heathlands on Forest Road where just two days previously we had been stunned with a magnificent display of Great Sun Orchids, Thelymitra aristata, and Spotted Sun Orchids, T. ixioides. However due to the cooler conditions we had to be content admiring the other flower species that were growing in close proximity to the closed sun orchids.
Forest Rd heathland
Forest Rd heathland
We then made our way further along Forest road where we found many species of orchids, which are not reliant on sunshine to show their beauty, and Ellinor, Paul, Gail and Rod, who were our only participants, had an exciting time checking the red ribbons that marked many of these special flowers.
Gail says hello to a Donkey Orchid, Diuris orientis
Other orchids included:
Plain-lipped Spider Orchid, Caladenia clavigera
Waxlips, Glossodia major
Donkey Orchid
White Fingers, Caladenia catenata
Pink Fingers, Caladenia carnea
Margaret was pleased to find a Large white Spider orchid, Caladenia venusta, just standing amongst the other vegetation
Margaret
and Gail and Rod had two special discoveries.
Gail found a bright pink Tiny Fingers, Caladenia pusilla,
Gail and Paul with Caladenia pusilla
Tiny Fingers Caladenia pusilla
And Rod found an early Little Bronze Cap, Caladenia transitoria, just waiting for eager eyes to discover, but not easy to do as it blends so well into its surrounding vegetation.
Little Bronze Cap
Paul was pleased that we found an often over-looked species of orchid, Common Onion Orchid, Microtis unifolia, just before we finished the ramble. Their flowers are so tiny but perfect in every way.
Common Onion Orchid
It has been a hard year for our terrestrial orchids with hot, dry and windy conditions but nevertheless we were able to enjoy a good number of species on our Nature Ramble.
Margaret MacDonald