11/09/2024
Given our next planned pub stay is only 22kms as the crow flies to the NNE we decide to firstly explore Beverley on foot with Jan and Bob.
We check out the old buildings, numerous murals and artworks as well as the Railway Station precinct.
Leaving Beverley around 9am, we headed northwest to Wandoo National Park to visit Mount Observation.
We started by exploring the picnic areas and car park, then wandered along the roadside.
Overall, we were lucky enough to spot the following species:
Blue beard / Blue fairy orchid (Pheladenia deformis),
Green spider / Fringed mantis orchid (Caladenia falcata),
Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva),
Pink candy orchid (Caladenia hirta subsp. rosea),
Candy orchid (Caladenia hirta subsp hirta),
Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava),
Silky blue orchid (Cyanicula sericea),
Bird orchid (Pterostylis barbata),
Lemon-scented sun orchid (Thelymitra antennifera),
Big clubbed spider orchid (Caladenia magniclavata) and
Clubbed spider orchid (Caladenia longiclavata).
We are currently as far west as out travels will take us.
Heading back east we call into York for a look and take the opportunity for a bakery lunch.
Moving further east along Goldfields Road we pull over for a photo opp. It is here we part ways with Jan and Bob and will catch up at Greenhills our next overnight stop.
Deb and I continue along the road until we stop at the Wallaby Hills Nature Reserve.
Here we go exploring and stumble across the following orchids:
Cowslip orchid,
Blue china orchid (Cyanicula gemmata),
Jug orchid,
Green spider / Fringed mantis orchid,
Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis),
Western wheatbelt donkey orchid (Diuris brachyscapa),
and finally
a spent Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata).
We leave Wallaby Hills N.R. as we need to start our way back toward Greenhills.
We pull into Doodenanning and check out the sports ground, hall and community sheep dip before moving onto the cemetery. (Doodenanning 1)
Whilst looking around we uncover the following orchids:
Western wheatbelt donkey orchid,
Drooping spider orchid (Caladenia radialis) and possibly a hybrid?
Tangled white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. redacta),
Candy orchid and
Stark white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. eminens).
Leaving Doodenanning we travel west along the same named road until pulling over to check out a roadside verge. (Greenhills 1)
As it is now 4.30pm we have a quick wander around and still find the following orchids:
Yellow spider orchid (Caladenia denticulata subsp. denticulata),
Crimson spider orchid (Caladenia footeana) or could it be
Clumped / Strawberry spider orchid (Caladenia denticualta subsp. rubella) due to the less prominent stripes on labellum. Thoughts?
Pouched leek orchid (Prasophyllum cyphochilum) and
unsurprisingly the Western wheatbelt donkey orchid.
It is now past 4.30pm so we make the quick drive to Greenhills where we check into our amazingly restored hotel, the Greenhills Inn.
We found out it had been sold and the new owners are not renewing the liquor licence so it will no longer be a hotel and will be converted to an Artist Retreat.
So glad we got to experience it before it becomes an exclusive place.
21 species found with 1 possible hybrid.
