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: 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)
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)
Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
When I first found these pretty blue flowers, a year or two ago, I thought they might be native. I put the photograph aside for identification, and got too busy to search for the species name. With the wet spring weather, it is plentiful again this year. Unfortunately, it isn’t a native Australian species, but … Continue reading Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
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)
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
For Those Who Sew!
Many of my friends and family are keen quilters, or sew clothing or items such as throw pillows and tote bags. At some point I noticed that most of the flowers on the floral fabrics were exotics, and I wondered if I could create fabric designs featuring our local wildflowers. The result is my … Continue reading For Those Who Sew!
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)
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 Gallery of Winter Flowers
On the last day of Winter, I hope you enjoy some of the flowers I have photographed over previous two weeks.
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)
Wild Flower Hunting for Beginners: Ten Tips
Although it still only May, the wild flowers around the property are starting to grow. Small-Mosquito Orchids are flowering again; I see Climbing Sundews and Twining Fringe-lily stems winding around Bracken; the Guinea Flower and native Pea bushes are greening up and many other signs of the wildflowers to come are emerging after the recent … Continue reading Wild Flower Hunting for Beginners: Ten Tips
Visitors in the Garden
The plants in our Honeyeater Garden are beginning to thicken up, and along with Crimson Rosella, Magpies and Kookaburras, it is now also attracting Red Wattlebirds, the odd Robin and some fast moving tiny birds that I haven’t been able to photograph yet. Also attracted to the garden is the young joey who spends a … Continue reading Visitors in the Garden
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)
Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)
It is finally beginning to feel like Autumn, even though technically, it has been for a few weeks. Over the past few days I have been noticing many familiar wild flowers beginning to grow. This post shows a few of the plants I have come across this week. Some are just setting leaves, and will flower later … Continue reading Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)
Boxthorn (Exotic) or Bursaria (Native)
The original Post In a corner of our property, an area which has been slightly disturbed by small-scale mining in the 1800’s, I found a waist-high shrub with white flowers and thorns – Bursaria (native) or Boxthorn (Exotic) I wondered. It turned out to be Boxthorn, an introduced species which has the potential to become … Continue reading Boxthorn (Exotic) or Bursaria (Native)
Natural Re-vegetation Around the Dam
Recently, I wrote about the falling water level in the Dam. I’ve noticed many small plants growing close to the new perimeter of the water. These have all grown naturally from seed dispersed in the air or deposited when birds and mammals go to the dam for a drink. I thought it might be interesting to … Continue reading Natural Re-vegetation Around the Dam
Fifteen Acres 