We enjoy a leisurely breakfast with brother Geoff and Robyn before heading down to Dwellingup Cemetery to pay our respects to our dearly departed family. In the parking area alongside the cemetery, we find some banded greenhoods. Appears to be two species. The very tall specimen appears to be the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata), whilst the dark brown coloured one is likely the Cupped banded greenhood (Pterostylis concava). The cupped lateral sepals I feel assist with this identification.
Moving on towards Quindanning we pull into the Quindanning Forest on the Pinjarra-Williams Road and have a quick look in the bush. As we are still within the Jarrah Forest, albeit the eastern boundary, we find the same two species of greenhoods. Some of the brown coloured may be another species but I will leave the positive ID to another day. Posting on iNaturalist for assistance.
Again, we move on, but we decide not to go as far as Williams. Instead, we turn south down the Williams-Darkan road and make our next stop at Culbin Nature Reserve. This reserve appears to contain the original Culbin school reserve which is recorded as being 5 acres. A plaque has been erected confirming the previous existence of the school. We decide to check out the reserve in the fairly cleared areas and find more Banded greenhoods (P. vittata). We were just about to resign ourselves to the fact that greenhoods will be all we find today, when we stumble across some recognisable Hare orchids (Leporella fimbriata) still in flower. Small mercies!!
Further along the Willams-Darkan Road we pull over at a gravelly area with large gum trees in the hope this change in habitat will provide something different for the day. Not to be, only a sole specimen was found of the Cupped banded greenhood. Pics taken for recording purposes.
We make it to Darkan and have a quick look around. Nothing much here so onwards we go. South of Darkan we pull into Towerringing Lake which has an amazing private campground/caravan park on the lakes edge. Maybe for another time. We grab a snack from our supplies as we plan on getting lunch at the Kojonup Country Kitchen. We enjoy a toasted sandwich each before the final leg of today’s drive, to Albany. Here we check into our accommodation and decide to have dinner at restaurant recommended by our B&B host. The Chanya Thai is a nice hidden gem down at the harbour below Stirling Terrace. Here Deb enjoyed a beautiful Prawn dish, and I had a nice Thai curry. A great way to end a long but enjoyable day.
