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 á 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. 
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Thankful Thursday 
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