Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Monday, 31 October 2022

Weekend getaway - Wildflowers from Indian Ocean to Boranup Forest

 A couple of weekends ago we took a three day weekend getaway only about one hour from home that took us from the Indian Ocean to the Boranup Forest and of course there were wildflowers. It's amazing how just a few days away can be so refreshing. 

First off - the seaside holiday town of Busselton and the iconic Busselton jetty. I've brought you the Busselton Jetty a few times over the years. 

Busselton Jetty is the longest piled wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere. Built in 1865 to cater for shipping for both goods and tourists, several subsequent extensions were added up until 1911. A final extension was added in 1960, and the jetty was closed to shipping in 1972. In 1978 when Cyclone Alby swept through the south west, the southern arm of the jetty was washed completely away, leaving only the railway jetty.

We have had many enjoyable times fishing and squidding off the Busselton jetty, then buying hot chips from the fish and chip shop at the end of the jetty before heading home. 

The old shop is gone now, but the jetty is still a focus for locals and visitors. The jetty "Boatshed" interpretive centre is just a short stroll from the beach, and the Underwater Observatory, 1.7 kilometres from shore, which can be reached about the jetty train or by walking. There are also restaurants, a fabulous adventure playground, shady lawned picnic areas, a new Brewery, and a hotel is currently being built. 

The jetty is also the location of the annual 3.6km around-the-jetty swim race. 

The bronze sculpture of the girl located at the beach end of the jetty is called "Fish" by Nicole Mickle. 


The next day was perfect for walking - a bit of sun and cloud - so in the morning we walked part of the Meelup to Dunsborough coastal trail. We had wallked from the Dunsborough end in 2019 and seen lots of wild orchids. We didn't see as many orchids this time around, I think we might have been a bit late - but below you can see on the left hand side some donkey orchids, and on the right hand side the Bronze Leak orchid (top) and the Mantis orchid (bottom). 


A few of the wildflowers along the walk. Clockwise from top left - Hibbertia, Claw flower, grass tree flower, pink Trigger plant, Fringe lilly, Trigger plant, Coastal rose, Southern native rose, Banjine, and in the center one of the pea flowers. 


The native rose family has always been one of my favourites. This is Diplolaena dampieri - Southern Diplolaena native rose


Two coastal views - looking towards Meelup beach - and Castle Rock


After lunch we went down to the Carbunup Reserve.  This little reserve is a great place to see wild orchids. 
I won't even pretend to be รก botanist with acurate identifications - but clockwise from top left there are three of the spider orchid varieties (the middle one being the Chapman's spider orchid), one of the white orchids, the purple enamel orchid, Karri cowslip, cowslip orchids, forest mantis, and in the center are rattle beak orchids. 


Here is another look at the Chapmans spider orchid, the Forest Mantis and the Rattlebeaks. 


And a few other Carbunup wildflowers - clockwise from top left - the red and green Mangles Kangaroo Paw, green Kangaroo Paw, Banjine, Curry flower, possibly Pepper and Salt, ReedTrigger plant, Book Trigger plant, Milkwort, and in the center on of the yellow peas. 


And for those of you I know love me sharing photos of kangaroos that we randomly come across when we are bush walking, we disturbed this one having a snooze in the sun, so he got up and had a scratch. 


We then drove down to the Boranup Forest south of Margaret River in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. I wanted to see how the forest was recovering after the devastating bush fire last December that burnt out of control for several days and destroyed up to 8000 hectares of this iconic native bushland and karri trees, some over 60 metres tall. 

We didn't walk a long way in along the walk trail as it was now late in the day, but it was heartening to see the bushland regenterating after being scorched bare. 



Two wildflowers - pink Fairy orchid and Native Wisteria. 


Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of our Western Australian coastal wildflowers. 

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.

14 comments:

  1. So great to see flora which doesn't grow in our regions (south-eastern North America). And I'd just fall over if I met a kangaroo while walking in the woods. Thanks for sharing these delightful bits with me.

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  2. I enjoyed reading again, Jill. Currently we see TROPPO, a serie from Australia. It is thrilling to see ... we like ist.

    Happy Halloween ... Do you celebrate?

    Thank you for sharing and being part of MosaicMonday.

    Wish you a wonderful week.

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    1. Troppo certainly was an intriguing mystery which dragged you in. No we don't do halloween but others do. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Hello Jill,
    What a lovely getaway. The coastal views are beautiful. I love all the flowers, just gorgeous. Cute capture of the kangaroo. Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

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  4. It was really nice to see all your photos. There are so many different flowers worldwide. The kangaroo is cool and so is the statue of the girl.

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  5. So much beauty you've shared here! Lovely!
    Thanks so much for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/10/i-dont-see-one-of-these-very-often.html

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  6. Hello, Jill. Your mosaics show magical world of wild flowers, especially orchids which I haven’t seen before.

    Yoko

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  7. What a magical variety of flowers!

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  8. Orchids are so beautiful

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  9. We can not see those flora in our country Tรผrkiye, so thanks for sharing...

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  10. Gorgeous pics. I really love the southern native rose. I've not seen that before.

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  11. Beautiful set of photos. Have a good day, Diane

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  12. Jill - when I look at your photos of the wildflowers, never mind the ORCHIDS, I am resolved all over again to make my way to your neck of the woods. Oh, to see these beauties with my own eyes!!!

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I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.