Introduction

Well I have finally decided to take the leap and record my orchid travels, discoveries and photos in a BLOG so that others may choose to join in my adventures, looking for what I feel are an amazing family of flowering plants that have so many varieties, colours, shapes and sizes that one can not help but be amazed by them. In Western Australia there are two distinct areas that native orchids are found. The South West of Western Australia and in the north starting in the Kimberley. My BLOG will focus on the South West terrestrial orchids due to the massive size of my home state of Western Australia.

Orchidaceae is the family name in scientific speak however I will be using the common name of “Orchid” in my posts. In Western Australia the South West orchid territory ranges from Shark Bay in the Midwest on a diagonal line to Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields and eastwards to Eyre on the Nullarbor plain including the entire South West, Great Southern, South Coastal and Wheatbelt regions.

In this Southern region 28 different genera and over 400 species are found with many yet to be formally named, so as you can imagine tracking down all of these will provide years of adventures for me to fill up my BLOG.

Please note I am a self-taught amateur in Orchid location, Orchid identification and Orchid photography so I would ask for your understanding if I may get it wrong, and would appreciate your feedback, notes and comments to help this little BLOG grow and develop just as my wonderful Orchids do in this great state of Western Australia.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Cowslip Orchids (Caladenia flava *subsp.* flava)

20/08/2020 ….. Quajabin Peak to Pingeculling Nature Reserve (Road Trip 2020)

Nature Reserves, Pingeculling NR, Road Trip, Western Australian Orchids

After a night listening the nearby sheep bleating all night we awake to another beautiful sunny morning. We now take the time to explore the area below our camp for orchids.

Quajabin (County) Peak

Small flowered donkey orchid

(Diuris porrifolia)

Western wheatbelt donkey orchid

(Diuris brachyscapa)

Leaving Quajabin (County) Peak we head south to Yenyening Lakes. We hoped to explore the Nature Reserve however it seems to only cover the actual lakes themselves. A little bit along Qualandary Road just over the Avon River bridge we pull over to check out the roadside vegetation.

Yenyening Lakes

Purple-veined spider orchid, Purple-veined clown orchid

(Caladenia doutchiae)

Puppet orchid

(Caladenia incrassata)

Dancing spider orchid

(Caladenia discoidea)

Blue beard, Blue fairy orchid

(Pheladenia deformis)

Green spider orchid, Fringed mantis orchid

(Caladenia falcata)

Leaving the Yenyening lakes we head further along Qualandary Road. At the intersection with Boyagarra Road we pull into a gravel pit. Here we explore the vegetation for any orchids that may flower in this small island of nature in the middle of farmland.

Boyagarra Road

Frog greenhood

(Pterostylis sargentii)

Sugar orchid

(Ericksonella saccharata)

>>>> donkey orchid

(Diuris sp.)

It is now past 12 o’clock so we move on. looking for another location where we can have some lunch whilst exploring for orchids. We by-pass Brookton by heading south down Moorumbine Road. at another gravel pit in the middle of a bush block will pull up. Whilst eating lunch we explore the surrounding vegetation for orchids. We come across an old rubbish dump site and find some amazing old bottles.

Moorumbine Road

Little pink fairy

(Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans)

Sugar orchid

(Ericksonella saccharata)

Frog greenhood

(Pterostylis sargnetii)

Small flowered donkey orchid

(Diuris porrifolia)

Western wheatbelt donkey orchid

(Diuris brachyscapa)

Jug orchid

(Pterostylis recurva)

After storing away our old bottles, we move into the Pingeculling Nature Reserve. We follow the track up a steep gravely slope then along bush tracks past sheoks and granite boulders. We then come across a fallen tree over the track. I get to use my Ryobi Chainsaw for it’s first real test. We then pull up on the track near a flat piece of granite and set up camp.

Pingeculling Nature Reserve

Little pink fairy

(Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans)

Cowslip orchid

(Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Sugar orchid

(Ericksonella saccharata)

Western wheatbelt donkey orchid

(Diuris brachyscapa)

Banded greenhood

(Pterostylis vittata)

Blue beard

(Pheladenia deformis)

Lemon-scented sun orchid

(Thelymitra antennifera)

Little laughing leek orchid

(Prasophyllum gracile)

Primrose spider orchid

(Caladenia xantha)

Jug orchid

(Pterostylis recurva)

Caladenia sp.

It is now nearly 4pm so we make tracks back to the camper and light the camp fire to get ready for dinner. I study the orchid books to uncover what we had found today. A fabulous day with so many orchids found.

19/08/2020 ….. Wandoo National Park to Quajabin Peak (Road Trip 2020)

National Parks, Road Trip, Wandoo NP, Western Australian Orchids

After our departure from Perth late yesterday afternoon, we awake to a beautiful morning in Wandoo National Park. After enjoying breakfast we go exploring the surrounding woodland for orchids, whilst allowing the camper to dry out from a damp evening.

Wandoo National Park

Common donkey orchid

(Diuris corymbosa)

Blue beard, blue fairy orchid

(Pheladenia deformis)

Little pink fairy, dwarf pink fairy

(Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans)

Primrose spider orchid

(Caladenia xantha)

Sugar orchid

(Ericksonella saccharata)

Murdoch snail orchid

(Pterostylis ectypha)

Clubbed snail orchid

(Pterostylis glebosa)

Cowslip orchid

(Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Jug orchid

(Pterostylis recurva)

Banded greenhood

(Pterostylis vittata)

We then pack up our dry camper and move back to the highway to travel east. We don’t get far before another location to check out appears on the right. We take the track in and first stop along the drive in, then park up at the picnic area, before stopping along the track back to the highway. This proved a great spur of the moment stop.

Mount Observation

Little pink fairy

(Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans)

Frog greenhood

(Pterostylis sargentii)

Jug orchid

(Pterostylis recurva)

Small flowered donkey orchid

(Diuris porrifolia)

Blue beard

(Pheladenia deformis)

Common spider orchid

(Caladenia varians)

Clubbed spider orchid. Long-clubbed spider orchid

(Caladenia longiclavata)

Big clubbed spider orchid

(caladenia magniclavata)

Bird Orchid

(Pterostylis barbata)

Silky blue orchid

(Cyanicula sericea)

It is now past 1pm so we make tracks to York. Here we have a wonderful pub lunch before heading south. Just before reaching Beverley we check out St Paul’s church at Edwards Crossing. A beautiful old church in the middle of nowhere it seems. Next we pass through Beverley without stopping and turn east a Mount Kokeby. Another amazing historic build is found in Bally Bally. The old town hall was an impressive sight.We had chosen Quajabin Peak as a possible overnight stay. Not much on offer but we set up camp anyway, before I climb the Peak for a birds eye view of the surrounding farmland. Unfortunatley the peak is ravaged by erosion. At the top of the peak I found a Rufous greenhood type orchid in bud. Nothing else located.

It was a great day checking out the Wandoo National park. Finding 17 orchid species was a bonus.

15/08/2020 ….. Danberrin Hill to Perth (Road Trip 2020)

Road Trip, Western Australian Orchids

Unlike our other mornings, we wake to sounds of other people. The church group are up and busy, so we have breakfast then decide to climb the rock before breaking camp.

Danberrin Rock Reserve

Pink candy orchid

(Caladenia hirta susbp. rosea)

Glistening spider orchid

(Caladenia incensum)

Time to head back down to the campers. We pack up saying our goodbyes to the church group, before heading off to Site 22 on the Wheatbelt Way Drive Trail. Trayning Gnamma Holes are 18km north of Trayning and are listed as the largest in the district. Orchids were found alongside the track from the carpark to the gnamma holes.

Trayning Gnamma Holes

Common spider orchid

(Caladenia varians)

Blue beard, Blue fairy orchid

(Pheladenia deformis)

We then move south to Site 23 – Trayning Well a large rocked lined tank. It was situated right on the edge of the road so no opportunity to look for orchids. Then we head west to Yelbeni Town Site where the large, open shed museum is Site 24, the final stop on the Wheatbelt Way Drive Trail.

The completion of the Wheatbelt Way Drive Trail is reached as we drive back through Wyalkatchem and Dowerin, completing the loop. It was a great drive trail where we got to explore natural features and re-visit the history of the areas visited. We part ways with Richard as we head into Toodyay, to visit the Christmas Shop, whilst Richard heads to his home.

Today was more history than orchids but was a great end to the Trail. We will be spending a few days in Perth visiting relatives. Plan to head off again on the 18/8.

14/08/2020 ….. Weira Reserve to Danberrin Hill (Road Trip 2020)

Billyacatting Hill NR, Nature Reserves, Other Reserves, Road Trip, Weira Reserve, Western Australian Orchids

Another leisurely morning, where we have breakfast and pack up the campers, before heading off exploring the reserve, with Deb this time. We check out the breakaway as we did yesterday, then make our way back to the campsite for the walk trail to the gnamma hole.

Weira Reserve

Hairy-stemmed snail orchid

(Pterostylis setulosa)

Glistening spider orchid

(Caladenia incensum)

Caladenia dimidia X Caladenia incensum

Dainty blue orchid

(Cyanicula amplexans)

Chameleon spider orchid

(Caladenia dimidia)

Green-veined shell orchid

(Pterostylis scabra)

We arrived at the gnamma hole , however it was a weed infested area so we quickly trekked back to the campers to move on. No photos taken. The next stop on the Wheatbelt Way Drive Trail was Site 19, a place called Wattoning Historical Site. Here we first took time to have lunch before finding a place to check for orchids. Nothing discovered so we move on.

We then backtracked, stopping to take photos of Cleomine, a wind driven tribute to a local racehorse, then an old grain silo relocated to Mukinbudin, before arriving at Site 20 – Mangowine Homestead. This historical location was once an inn where travellers to the goldfields rested up. It was an interesting stop but alas still no orchids.

We then decided to visit site 21, Billyacatting Hill, before reaching Nungarin, as we plan to camp south of the town. We did not wish to backtrack North tomorrow.

Billyacatting Nature Reserve