Tag: Wild flowers

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)

Investigating the species of plants which are naturally re-vegetating the dam bank, I was pleased to discover that the most plentiful plant is a native species:  Austral Brooklime.  The seeds of this plant are apparently long-lived and can remain dormant in soil until the right conditions occur. The flowers are tiny – approximately 3mm to … Continue reading Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)

Yellow Rush-lily (Tricoryne elatior)

This year the Spring has been so dry that flowers seem to be behaving in unseasonal ways, including the Yellow Rush-lily which last Summer flowered in February.  Having noted that, I have only found one small group of plants, so perhaps they are growing in a micro-climate that suits them and the others will flower … Continue reading Yellow Rush-lily (Tricoryne elatior)

Tonal Landscapes Calendar

If you found my posts on Tonal Landscapes interesting, you may like to know that I have created a 2015 Tonal Landscapes Calendar, available from my Redbubble site.  I’ve also created a Central Victoria: Colours and Textures calendar and a Central Victoria: Flora and Fauna calendar. In all three calendars, the photographs representing each month … Continue reading Tonal Landscapes Calendar

Drooping Mistletoe (Amyema pendula)

For many years I have wanted to have a red flowering eucalypt, so when I spotted what appeared to be red flowers on the ground, I got excited – only to work out that I have a red flowering Mistletoe.  The Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which attaches to eucalypts and sometimes acacia trees.  The … Continue reading Drooping Mistletoe (Amyema pendula)

Heath Teatree (Leptospermum myrsinoides)

I took these Teatree photographs in September of 2013 and they have been sitting in my ‘To Identify’ folder since then.  The appearance of Teatree flowers again this Spring has prompted me to sit down and try to work out which species of Teatree we have here.  Looking at the different flowering periods and differences … Continue reading Heath Teatree (Leptospermum myrsinoides)

Rabbit Ears (Thelymitra antennifera)

I haven’t had time to identify any further Sun Orchids species I photographed over the past week, but as I already know Rabbit Ears, and it is a Sun Orchid, I thought I would share a photograph of one.  I took this photograph on 19 October with a Macro lens. Rabbit Ears orchids are named for the … Continue reading Rabbit Ears (Thelymitra antennifera)

Short Sun Orchid (Thelymitra exigua)

The centre of this Short Sun Orchid almost seems to have teeth shown in a gasp of horror!  It makes me smile because it is both beautiful and humorous in a charming way.  I like the way the colour in the lobes fades toward the centre of the flower. I would like to tell you more … Continue reading Short Sun Orchid (Thelymitra exigua)

Grey Parrot-pea (Dillwynia cinerascens)

Continuing my quest to work out the difference between all of the native pea plants growing in our bushland, my best guess is this one is a Grey Parrot-pea.   From my reading, they have clusters of up to ten flowers, which are ‘sessile’ or  appearing to be without a stem.  The leaves are long … Continue reading Grey Parrot-pea (Dillwynia cinerascens)

Blue Stars with White Flowers

At the moment, Blue Stars  (Chamaescilla corymbosa var. corymbosa) flowers are coming up everywhere. When the sun is out the grass around the house is dotted with blue.  They also appear in the bush section of the property, but not with the same frequency. In among the blue flowers are two plants with white flowers. … Continue reading Blue Stars with White Flowers

Common Flat-pea (Platylobium obtusangulum)

Working toward  my goal to identify the various Australian native pea plants we have growing here, I have identified this one as the Common Flat-pea.  Yesterday it was full of flowers and unopened buds but the wind was strong,  making it difficult to get a clear shot at the trembling flowers.  This morning we saw a … Continue reading Common Flat-pea (Platylobium obtusangulum)

Yam Daisy (Microseris sp. 3)

There is so much in flower at the moment, I could have chosen many different native flowers to write about – but the Yam Daisy  is one that should have been included in the A – Z Species list  last year.  When I saw it in flower again, I thought it was high time to dedicate … Continue reading Yam Daisy (Microseris sp. 3)