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Sunday, 13 September 2020

Scarlet banksia - Banksia coccinea - Western Australia

 Hi everyone, just a short post from me today. We have been away this past week staying at the Mt Trio Bush Camp and Caravan Park adjacent to the Stirling Ranges National Park in the south of Western Australia.  I'm still sorting through my pics! 

The Stirling Ranges National Park was devastated by last summer's bushfires in Western Australia. More than 40,000 hectares was lost through the bushfire in the Park. The Park is a biodiversity hotspot containing more than 1,500 species of plants, at least 87 of which are found nowhere else in the world, and some of which may be lost forever. Conservationists say it may take centuries to recover.  

You can read more here: ABC.net-bushfires-cause-stirling-ranges-biodiversity-to-be-devastated

We enjoyed our stay exploring the Park, but when we visited the devastation was still very obvious and heartbreaking to see. Some areas had started to reshoot, but large swaths of land was still burnt earth with blackened sticks which was once lush bushland. 


Some of our native plants rely on bushfire to regenerate. Some of the orchids for instance, like the Red Beaks, just one of the nearly 30 wild orchid species we saw. But more on that in another post. 

One flower which we enjoyed seeing was the Scarlet Banksia - Banksia coccinea - which only grows in a small section of our state. A truly magnificent plant which grows 1-8 metres high. 
I had only seen them once before in the wild in the Fitzgerald River National Park on our south coast. 




We saw it in one location along a scenic drive which winds through the park. The gravel road must have acted as a fire break - as one side was still lush and the other burnt black. There were several Scarlet Banksias flowering on the lush side, and just one plant on the burnt side. 


We saw many blackened sticks and scorched plants like this. Heartbreaking. 


Learn more here: Australian Native Plants Society

That's it from me for today. I hope to bring you more from the Stirling Ranges National Park next week.

I am sorry if I didn't answer your comments or visit your pages last week, but we were away and we discovered that internet was virtually impossible.  I hope you and your families are all safe and well. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.  

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!



Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
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21 comments:

  1. Dawn14 September 2020 at 09:14

    The red plant reminds me of a fire stick, a little flaming torch.
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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  2. Angie14 September 2020 at 11:58

    Jill - the vagaries of wildfire - some plants dead and others alive, in close proximity. For those of us who live in wildfire prone areas, it is a scary concept!!! It will be an interesting study in nature to watch how those affected areas recover over time. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday with these lovely flowers!

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  3. eileeninmd14 September 2020 at 18:35

    Hello Jill,
    It is great you are able to get away, the parks look fabulous. I love the beautiful Scarlet Banksia, it is a lovely plant with beautiful blooms. Lovely images. Take care, Stay safe! Enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!

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  4. EricaSta14 September 2020 at 20:03

    Wonderful plants, Gill. Thank you for sharing this interesting Post and this link especially. Could this grow in a garden too? Sad, so sad that bushfire destroy this area.

    Happy MosaicMonday

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    Replies
    1. Jill Harrison19 September 2020 at 08:51

      i guess given the right conditions they could grow in a suburban garden,

      Delete
  5. ~Lavender Dreamer~14 September 2020 at 23:05

    How wonderful to get out in nature but it is hard to see the burned areas. Plants and wildlife manage to come back though but it takes time! Love this beautiful flower! Enjoy your week.

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  6. Lady Fi15 September 2020 at 14:47

    Gorgeous flowers!

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  7. NCSue15 September 2020 at 22:55

    These are gorgeous flowers. The resiliency of nature is amazing, isn't it?
    Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/09/going-buggy.html

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  8. Jill15 September 2020 at 23:16

    It's so sad that the area was devastated but your photos of these flowers are gorgeous. How unique!

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  9. Gillena Cox16 September 2020 at 02:55

    Your Banksias are lovely, sad though about those distressing fires
    Stay safe

    Much💛love

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  10. Fun6016 September 2020 at 15:27

    What devastating sites you must have seen. It is heartbreaking but the banksias give a ray of hope. Their colour is wonderful against the stark barkground.

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  11. Powell River Books17 September 2020 at 00:44

    It would be fun to experience Australia by RV. - Margy

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    Replies
    1. Jill Harrison19 September 2020 at 09:04

      absolutely. but we are a big country so you need thorough planning

      Delete
  12. Villrose17 September 2020 at 03:50

    The increasing and more intense wood- and bushfires around the world really is scary and tragic!
    Love the Scarlet Banksias :)

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  13. Kirsi17 September 2020 at 14:01

    Oh wow what for exotic und interesting plants - I don't know them before,
    Greetings from Germany
    Kirsi

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  14. Elkes Lebensglück17 September 2020 at 14:56

    Thank you for this interesting report from you and the beautiful photos of this Banksias plant.
    It is terrible these fires with you, what it causes when it becomes too much.
    Greetings Elke

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  15. Heidi R.17 September 2020 at 19:05

    I followed the devastating bushfires on television, the catastrophe was reported on all channels, yes, that was and is a tragedy! Nature could recover, but the prognosis for the future is bad. The climate is changing and the drought will tend to increase, the same applies to my home country!
    The flowers shown are like a revelation, the cycle of life will continue to turn, there is always hope.

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    Replies
    1. Life Images by Jill19 September 2020 at 09:14

      yes i worry about our future when i see what is happening around the world

      Delete
  16. Joanne 17 September 2020 at 21:18

    We were out hiking last year on our anniversary when we saw a patch of woods that had obviously been part of a brush fire. It's always a bit chilling to see so much blackened and bare where it's usually a bit more lush and green. Those bright red flowers are so interesting!

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  17. betty-NZ18 September 2020 at 16:06

    I'm so sorry about your fires but nature has a way of using these things to her advantage. I always love finding these lovelies around but are mostly yellow.

    Your link at 'My Corner of the World' is greatly appreciated!! I'm glad to see you this week!

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  18. Bernhard18 September 2020 at 21:44

    Thx for this flower images which i have never seen before.

    Best regards
    Bernhard

    ReplyDelete

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