A wander around Dharawal NP. 1st autumn greenhood : February 23 2025

Heading back to Sydney today. As we are in two cars I have the choice to stop along the way to walk somewhere - plan is Dharawal NP off Darkes Forest Road. Hoping to find midge orchids - friends walked there last week with good success. Nice drive just over an hour

Have walked this track before but earlier in the season - not sure what will be available. Sign at the fire trail entrance

Conesticks flowers still going. They have finished on the north side

Did find midge orchids where I expected - this one has seeded and hard to ID. Did see a lot seeded - only took photos of this one. Note to self: come back last week of Jan next time

This I can ID - fringed midge orchid

Corunastlyis fimbriata - note for later - the labellum is shaped a bit like a Coke bottle - curve in to a waistline and then a narrow widening

Narrow-leafed hemigenia

2nd orchid of the day - last flower closing on horned orchid - orthoceras strictum

Lots of sundews flowering - flower is tiny

A bit of a banksia show

NSW coral heath flower - epacris pulchella

Banksia serratum showing silvery splendour

New and old side by side

Bird call had me looking up. There is a finch on one those branches

A few purple fan flowers around

Could easily have made a theme day of the leaf colouring - reddish. Also saw yellow and gold and pure green- and the flowers themselves are fab

Did stop at each midge - checking ID - looks like corunastylis fimbriata

Christmas bells told me I was on the track friends found several types of midge orchids last week. I have seen a lot seeded but only one type flowering

Well I thought the sundew was small - this pink number is half the size again

More corunastylis fimbriata - excuse the lack of focus but these flowers are hosting a fly pollinator - look for flies

Shape of labbelum is consistent with the others

Not totally convinced on ID as labellum is a bit broader - key for me was the pollinator evidence - the little yellow sac

Zoom into the ringed bit

Well this looks like a piece of grass - to me - not - a leaf and a sheath - orchid lining up

The next midge orchid - it does not have the narrowing of the labellum and the lower third is a lot more rounded and it does not arch as much

Thinking it is corunastylis sagitifera - BUT altitude is too low

The pink sundew showing its unique ground food resource - succulent stores food

Spied this spike growing two inches above ground - looks mightily like an orchid. Hard pressed to know what it might be

Banksia serratum flowering

Stages of flowering

Seeded form of horned orchid. Note how the seed pods grow further apart. The other photo shows the flowers still quite clustered

Drove back toward Darkes Cider to walk the track to Maddens Falls

Surprised this big lace monitor lizard on the way down - 2 metres long

Walked directly to the weir track - was in two minds as it is thick bush and often overflows. Glad I did as there were a few greenhoods coming along - this one fully open - first greenhood of the season. Seems early

One flowering and 3 plants emerging

Sharp greenhood - pterostylis acuminata

Did walk a bit of the boardwalk and the side track to the creek. Tumbling waters above the falls

Goodenia flowering

Pea flower with the burgundy nose

Stopped in at Darkes Cider - was super busy when I drove past. They have set up a shop and outdoor seating like an amphitheatre looking down the Cathcart Valley- perfect for a lunch and cider. I did buy some

Another hour drive home. Orchids found. Steps done.

Dropped my wife's car off for service- saves an early start tomorrow.

Dinner: Pizza.

Been a few good few days off
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Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking

Height 183.0 cm		Weight 90.0 kg		Body Fat %
Waist cm		Thighs cm		Chest cm