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.
There are over 8,000 species of wildflowers in the south west of Western Australia!
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.
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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.
