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)
Tag: Australian Native Flowers
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)
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!
Jersey Cudweed Flowers
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
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)
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)
A Second Pair of Eyes (or three, or four)
When I am showing a visitor around our property, I find the second pair of eyes (or three, or four) very helpful. We all notice different things. Last week, my visitors were very knowledgeable and I learned a lot from them. Over the next few weeks I will be adding a few plants to my A-Z Species List. … Continue reading A Second Pair of Eyes (or three, or four)
Sharp Greenhood (Pterostylis X ingens)
This week, I’ve had the pleasure of showing a few visitors the Greenhoods and Helmet orchids in flower, as well as some of the other interesting plants on our property. After a few discussions about timing, seasons and conditions, I decided to go back through last year’s photographs for comparison. In mid-August last year I … Continue reading Sharp Greenhood (Pterostylis X ingens)
Here Come the Helmet Orchids
We are finally seeing some Helmet Orchid buds. Most of them are still very tiny, but there are a few that are taking on some colour, and beginning to swell. If I look back at last year’s photographs I see that the fully open flowers appeared at the end of July, so hopefully in … Continue reading Here Come the Helmet Orchids
Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists
A surprise invitation to accompany the Ballarat Field Naturalists on an orchid seeking field trip arrived in my inbox on Saturday. With a little rearranging, I was able to take up the offer, so on a beautifully sunny winter Sunday we set off to some local bushland. Thanks to John for inviting me and to … Continue reading Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists
Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)
How exciting it is to find another species of Sundew – I love Sundews almost as much I love the Orchids. The striking foliage and almost alien shapes and colours really grab my attention. Add to that the contrasting purity of white (or pink in some species) flowers and I can’t stop looking at them. … Continue reading Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)
Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?
We have quite a few Parsons Bands Orchids in flower at the moment, but this one stands out through the lack of pink or red. Potentially it is a green form, as referenced on the Retired Aussies website. I have not found reference to this colour anywhere else. So, if you have knowledge of this … Continue reading Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?
Fifteen Acres 