Silver Dory

Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing close together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing alongside T. carnea and several different species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids including T. x irregularis (top right).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Grevillea 'Raspberry Dream' looking good in the nursery this morning after overnight rain. I wasn't that excited about this recent release from the Kings Park hybrid grevillea breeding program when I first saw it but after some extensive testing in the garden (and by 'testing I mean leaving a batch sitting in pots for six months at the back of the house before finally remembering I still had them - then cutting them back to nothing before planting!) they are actually pretty good.

They flower a lot and respond well to a hard prune - new foliage is finer and a lighter green than a lot of other red/orange/pink hybrids.

Parentage of this hybrid is pretty interesting. I've see it described as 'involving' Grevillea scortechinii (black flowers) and a hybrid of Grevillea 'Little Honey' (orange/yellow flowers) and Grevillea formosa (large yellow/green flowers). 'Little Honey' is thought to be 'Honey Gem' and G. banksii 'White Dwarf' ... 'Honey Gem' is G. banksiii red form and G. pteridifolia. So quite a lot going on in the mix there!

#InTheGarden #Grevilleas #OzPlants #BloomScrolling #Autumn

Morning sunbaker in the Euphorbia Diamond Frosts - small Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) on today's gardening job in Tilba Tilba, NSW.

#Snakes #Pythons #Reptiles #Gardening #InTheGarden #TodaysOffice #TilbaTilba #Australia

Rosy hyacinth orchid (Dipodium roseum) still flowering at Christmas at Corunna, NSW.

Only a few small scattered plants out this year at home with almost no meaningful spring rainfall and a dry start to summer. But quite a few larger flowering stems still out on the side of the road between Tilba and Narooma.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #Dipodium

Discovered Ratibida columnifera (upright prairie coneflower / 'Mexican hat') for the first time today (in the nursery) ... already one of my favourite coneflowers ;)

#InTheNursery #Wildflowers #Coneflowers #Summer #Perennials #Gardening #TilbaTilba #BloomScrolling

It's been another poor year for the hyacinth orchids (Dipodium) at home in Corunna, NSW - with most of the small patch of Dipodium variegatum not making it to flower at all after a very dry spring.

However in recent weeks several new short flower spikes have emerged much later than usual - although those that have started to flower only only have two or three flowers at most.

So good to see some new plants in new locations - hopefully there will be more large spikes of flowers next season if it rains a bit more in spring and early summer.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #HyacinthOrchids #Dipodium

Microtis parviflora (slender onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house - Corunna, NSW.

Grows here alongside Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) which has shorter flowering stems with more crowded flowers at this location.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #OnionOrchids #Microtis

Grevillea calliantha (Foote's Grevillea) - grafted / garden (Corunna, SE NSW). Beautiful low-growing WA species with distinctive flowers featuring maroon/black styles. Flowers contrast well with greyish foliage.

Grafted plants can do well in the east but unfortunately are rarely seen in general nurseries. Listed as endangered in the wild with limited populations near Cataby, WA - so definitely worth a go if you can find one at a specialty native nursery or rare plant sale. #ConservationByCultivation

#InTheGarden #Gardening #OzPlants #Grevilleas #Botany #Photography #Flowers

@GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.ai @jerry@infosec.exchange Yeah it's not the best common name but blotched hyacinth orchid and spotted hyacinth orchid are already used for similar species.

@nightdream@sfba.social yes - def very ducky!

@nightdream@sfba.social the 'large' part of the name is slightly misleading as they are actually pretty small ;)

@bencourtice@aus.social nice one !