Another orchid to make a first appearance in 2017 was the Purple Beard-orchid.  Two separate plants grew right on the edge of the walking track at the back of our property, and another two on a cleared section near the Brown-clubbed Spider-orchids.  We had seen one Red Beard-orchid in a different area in 2013, and nothing in between.

Knowledgeable orchid people tell me that orchids don’t flower unless the conditions are perfect, so I have fingers crossed that we see at least one Beard-orchid this season.  They are such striking plants to look at, and reasonably tall, too. We try to protect them from being eaten by placing a wire ‘cage’ around them. So far so good with this strategy.