Category: Native Flowers

Wild flowers growing on our property which are native and endemic to the area.

Common Raspwort (Gonocarpus tetragynus)

Sometimes it pays off to photograph plants that appear to be weeds or insignificant in appearance. These days I mostly use my phone to photograph plants, and I debated whether it would be worth trying to capture a weedy looking tendril with red dots on it. The phone had a few issues, and it is … Continue reading Common Raspwort (Gonocarpus tetragynus)

Autumn Wasp Orchid (Chiloglottis Reflexa)

We have been watching a patch of orchid leaves for years. Each year they grow rich and green and full of promise, then curl up without flowering. We thought they looked like Bird Orchid leaves, as they showed up in that ‘bow-tie’ formation in a reasonable sized colony. This year, I am delighted to say, … Continue reading Autumn Wasp Orchid (Chiloglottis Reflexa)

Rush-leaf Sun-Orchid (Thelymitra juncifolia) vs. Spotted Sun-Orchid (Thelymitra ixioides)

For many years I have been photographing the Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) on our property. I was aware that there was a variation in colour and often in the location of the spots.  Recently, with the help of ‘Bush Gems’ an excellent reference to Victoria’s orchids by Gary Backhouse, I realise there are two … Continue reading Rush-leaf Sun-Orchid (Thelymitra juncifolia) vs. Spotted Sun-Orchid (Thelymitra ixioides)

Purple Beard-orchid (Calochilus robertsonii)

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 … Continue reading Purple Beard-orchid (Calochilus robertsonii)

Plain-Lip Spider-orchid (Caladenia clacigera)

We primarily have Brown Clubbed Spider-orchids on our property, but in October 2017 I photographed this Plain-Lip Spider-orchid.  Among a few straggly bracken stems, there were two Plain-lip Spider-orchids, squat and dark compared to the brightly coloured Brown-Clubbed Spider-orchids with their green combs. I missed the orchid season last year, so I don’t know if … Continue reading Plain-Lip Spider-orchid (Caladenia clacigera)

Mystery Leaves (6 Photos) Can You Identify This Plant?

I am looking for some assistance here. For the last three years I have watched this patch of what I think are Chiloglottis leaves grow and then curl up in late Spring/early Summer. I haven’t seen any flowers grow on them.  The leaves are growing beneath a mature eucalyptus tree approximately halfway between the house … Continue reading Mystery Leaves (6 Photos) Can You Identify This Plant?

Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa)

Over the years we have been here, I have photographed many plants which are waiting to be identified.  I first photographed Hedge Wattle in 2013 when I spotted a spindly branch dotted with yellow flowers in front of a tree I was trying to capture.  In October 2017 I found another specimen of Hedge Wattle … Continue reading Hedge Wattle (Acacia paradoxa)

Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

When we first moved in, almost five years ago now, there were very few native plants around the dam.  We pulled out a heap of Agapanthus plants and a large cactus plant which, to us, were at odds with sclerophyll bushland surrounding it.  Since then, grass grew, kangaroos and wallabies grazed, and each year we … Continue reading Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

Pale Pink Heath

Common Heath can have white, pink or red flowers.  We don’t have any red flowering heath here, but it is found in a reserve about ten minutes drive down the road. Over the years I have found about 3 or 4 plants with deep pink flowers, but predominantly we have white flowering Heath on our … Continue reading Pale Pink Heath

Poison Lobelia (Lobelia pratioides)

Summer flowers are very welcome for the small dots of colour they provide among dry grass and bracken.  These Poison Lobelia flowers were growing right on the edge of the dam in sandy, moist soil.  While I have photographed Poison Lobelia in previous years, I have just realised they were not included in the species … Continue reading Poison Lobelia (Lobelia pratioides)

Pale Vanilla Lily – White?

Happy New Year to you! On this first day of 2017, the cold and damp weather is still with us. A few days ago, we were complaining about being too hot, and now we’re cold again.  One positive of the cool weather is the prolonged flowering season.  In particular, the Pale Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleflorum) … Continue reading Pale Vanilla Lily – White?

Ivy Leaf Violets, Sundews, Rice Flowers and Goodenias

As I wrote about last week, and as requested by Nature on the Edge here are some photographs of the smaller plants, such as Ivy Leaf Violets, Rice Flowers, Pale Sundews and Goodenias which seem to be flourishing this year, with the wet weather and prolonged cooler temperatures. We’ve had carpets of colour in the grass … Continue reading Ivy Leaf Violets, Sundews, Rice Flowers and Goodenias

Ornate Pink Fingers (Caladenia ornata)

It’s always a good feeling to add a new plant to the species list, but it’s especially rewarding when it is a new orchid species for our property. I’ve been puzzling over the various types of Pink Fingers orchids for quite some time now, each year trying to take photos that lend themselves to identification. … Continue reading Ornate Pink Fingers (Caladenia ornata)

Tigers, Tigers, Tigers!

When I posted the photograph of the Early Nancy flowers, I lamented the lack of spring flowers – in particular, the Waxlips and Pink Fingers. Well, two days after I posted, the flowers began to appear. However, it has been so wet and windy, the opportunities to get out with a camera have been limited. … Continue reading Tigers, Tigers, Tigers!

Early Nancy Colour

In the time we have lived here, the first Waxlip flowers have appeared somewhere between the 9th and 21st September. In my scout around the bush, still no sign of them today. Last year, the lack of rain and warmer temperatures meant Spring arrived early, and was over before I really had a chance to … Continue reading Early Nancy Colour

Orchid Leaves

On my walk around the property this morning, I noticed many species of plants sending up new growth.  Among them were patches of orchid leaves.   The photograph above shows Small Mosquito Orchid leaves, Waxlip Orchid leaves and possibly a Helmet Orchid leaf.   In other places, many species of Greenhood are establishing colonies, the Gnat … Continue reading Orchid Leaves

Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

Technically, the Parsons Bands Orchid emerge after the first heavy rains of Autumn.  Well, we had a slight shower and here they are.   At the moment the Orchids are only lightly scattered here and there, so I am hoping for a heavy downfall soon to encourage more. The photograph below was taken with my … Continue reading Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

Golden Moth Orchid (Diuris chryseopsis)

It is always a pleasure to add a new orchid to my A-Z Native Species List.  I found this Golden Moth Orchid growing in grass in a transitional zone between the native bushland and the cultivated area around the dam.  As far as I could see, there was only one plant and it only lasted … Continue reading Golden Moth Orchid (Diuris chryseopsis)

Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva)

A group of visiting Field Naturalists discovered this Small Spider-orchid growing right next to some Sundew plants I had marked to show them.  It was a bit embarrassing to have walked past it multiple times without even noticing it was there.  Luckily I didn’t stand on it before the visitors arrived. In appearance, the Small … Continue reading Small Spider-orchid (Caladenia parva)

Common Hovea (Hovea heterophylla)

Last week  I glimpsed a flash of purple from the back of an animal track which disappeared beneath the wire boundary fence.   Looking beneath bracken growing right on the inside of the fence line, I found two Common Hovea plants in full bloom.   There were no visible Common Hovea plants on the outside … Continue reading Common Hovea (Hovea heterophylla)

Sorting Out the Sundews: Victorian Drosera Species

I’ve been in touch with Andrew from the Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society to try to get more information about Sundew (Drosera) plants.  Recently I found the VCPS website, which describes twelve different Victorian species of Sundew.  I thought we had quite a few of them and had attempted to identify the various species growing on the … Continue reading Sorting Out the Sundews: Victorian Drosera Species

Striped (Striated) Greenhood (Pterostylis alata)

I’ve been keeping an eye on a very small number of Striped Greenhoods (also known as Striated Greenhoods) for about a month now.  It has taken me a while but I am finally adding them to the A-Z Native Species list.  Today I could only find one, but there have been up to five in … Continue reading Striped (Striated) Greenhood (Pterostylis alata)