Hi all, I hope you and yours are doing well.
I just realised that I hadn't shared any wild orchids with you this year as I normally do during the spring months. So today is the day.
We have a wonderful bush reserve, the Manea Reserve, about 15 minutes from our home, which we frequent during winter and spring, walking along the loop formed path.
There are over 400 wild orchid varieties in the south west of Western Australia. These are not the flamboyant flashy Asian orchids - these are tiny delicate orchids - which often blend their colours into their surroundings. Or stun us with a colour so amazing - like the Blue Lady you will see as you scroll down. No I haven't adjusted the colour in post-processing.
Here are some wild orchids from September - clockwise from top left - Reaching spider orchid, Donkey orchids, Bird orchid, Dancing orchid, donkey orchids, and the Jug orchid. Enlarged below one of the Donkey orchid varieties.
October - clockwise from top left - Mignonette orchid, Blue lady orchid, Pink fairies, White spider orchid, White spider orchids, Forest Mantis, Enamel orchids, Cowslips, and in the centre the Blue Lady. Enlarged below the Blue Lady orchid.
and November - really the end of the orchid season - but still a couple coming on - clockwise from top left - one of the blue sun orchids, Leopard orchid, Mignonette orchid, the leaves of the Slipper orchid (just starting to poke up their flower stems, Leopard orchid, and another blue sun orchid. Enlarged below the Leopard Orchid.
Here is a photo of the Slipper Orchid - from a previous visit during the heat of December.
Just a short post from me today - if you would like to see some of my previous posts from Manea Reserve go here - I can assure you there is lots of colour!
And Manea is not just about orchids - clockwise from top left -
one of the yellow pea flowers, Summer star flower, Star of Bethlehem, Holly leaved Banksia, Banjine, Orange stars, Wisteria, Pink Baronia, and in the middle Mangles red kangaroo paw.
When you hear screeching look up - it is most likely a Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo, found in jarrah, marri and karri forests, it listed as Vulnerable in Western Australia. They love to eat hard seed pods of eucalypts, casuarinas and banksias, using its strong beak to tear them open. Their red/orange stripes on their tail are magnificent to see in flight - but hard to capture with a camera. From what I have read this is a female because of the yellow spots on its head and the yellow/orange stripes on its chest.
You also might see some kangaroos if you walk quietly. Please keep dogs on a lead.
And please stay on the paths and don't pick the wildflowers.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little splash of spring colour in the Western Australian bush.
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!
Next time I hope to be back with my continuation of our Coral Coast Western Australia tour.
If you are looking for a translate button - it's there near the top on the right hand side.
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.
Until then, enjoy your day...Life only comes around once, so do what makes you happy, be kind, and be with people who make you smile.
The orchids are beautiful and the names are so descriptive. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello Jill,
ReplyDeleteThe wild orchids are beautiful! Gorgeous photos of the wildflowers. I love the Cockatoo, it is a beautiful bird. The kangaroos are cute. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter link! Take care, have a great day and a happy week PS, thanks so much for leaving me a comment.
...Mother Nature is an amazing gardener!
ReplyDeleteThese orchids are gorgeous specimens, especially because they are still growing in the wild. Here, it has become fashionable to place orchids on the windowsill. I have never been able to get used to this!
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, there are still meadow orchids in isolated, protected areas, even here in Bavaria. You have to search a little...
...thank you for the wonderful contribution to MosaicMonday 🐿
You bring the reserve vividly to life, and those orchids sound absolutely enchanting, especially alongside the striking sight of the red-tailed black cockatoo
ReplyDeleteaww .... beautiful orchids....
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Australia has plenty of wild orchids.
Have a nice day
Interesting to know there are such a wide variety of beautiful orchards. And it would be highly unusual and a real treat to see kangaroos in my neck of the woods. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! We get our own orchids here, but not such a wonderful variety!
ReplyDeleteFlora and fauna captured beautifully!
ReplyDeleteWell, Jill, I timed this visit perfectly to see the orchids I love so much! Every time you feature these orchids, it reminds me that I will visit Australia one day and see them for myself! I scrolled back through and tried to choose a favorite, and I gave up!!! Thank you for sharing the gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteTHose purples are magnificent - and I think we spoke recently about the black cockatoos! You see them more frequently than I do!
ReplyDelete