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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Height183.0 cm |  | Weight90.0 kg |  | Body Fat% |  |
Waistcm |  | Thighscm |  | Chestcm |  |
Sundew flower looks beautiful
White flowers are usually cute and connotes purity