Midge orchids in a sacred place : February 8 2023

Had an idea to head out to west side of Ku-ring Gai Chase NP to look for midge orchids. Got a message from my wine storage saying my card had been declined. They are that side of town. Forecast was for afternoon rain - headed out mid morning to combine the missions

Walked a few different tracks. First one has a large rock slab - start there. Fringe lily on the way in

Drumsticks flower - windy day made focus work hard

This slab has great importance to indigenous people. There are a few carvings mostly tessellations. Also spiritually quiet

It has large sections of sedge moss. The orchids grow in there. This is a sample of a midge orchid - spike and one leaf and bud forming. Quite amazing as the soil base is never more than an inch deep.

Fringed midge orchid - some of the photo is in focus. Was hard on a bright and windy day

Corunastylis fimbriata - two plants close to each other

Found another - seed capsules swelling suggest they are finishing

Two together. Left one shows the bud just pushing through the sheath. Right one has done that

Close up of that one - best focus I could get

Those sedge banks support small bush clusters too

Banksia serratum

Walked the track for a bit. They have done massive track work. All the orchids grow in the stripe between the white track base and the bush. All smashed for this season - maybe two or more

Found this banksia on the way back - different to the others

Leaves do not have serrations

Drove to a different track - carved out of the bush. Last time I walked it I did not have much joy. But had to test at a different time of year. This little yellow flower is new to me

Found this spiky flower back near the road - clustered Darwinia

Tried one more track which has more grassy sections - huge cluster of fringe lilies

Did find a few midge orchids in two spots - corunatylis fimbriata

Purple fan flower - in two tones

The more normal form

First time seeing a two tone fringe lily. Kinda special

So I did find midge orchids and none others. Got wine out of wine storage and headed home. Was quiet there as the dog we have been looking after has gone home

Did some garden stuff. The rain they have been forecasting was nowhere to be seen. Watered the veges is a sure fire way to get rain. Wanted that done as we are away a few days from tomorrow

And my wife had cooked dinner - butter chicken.

Trade action: Bought ADYEN.AS after poor results. Credit spread on AMAT.

It did rain - well after dark

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Daily Activity, Gardening, House Chores, Photowalking