You won't get a better year for wildflowers in the Wild West! After a great start to our winter, the mid- and lower-West's wildflower showing is at its best. The phenomenon of the early winter rain bands streaming from the tropical Indian Ocean this year doesn't happen very often. It's got things fired up exceptionally, both in the red dirt country and sand plains north of Perth. Photographs of those phenomenal carpets of Everlastings and Immortelles are run out by the tourist honchos as a lure, but it's not just about that amazing red-dirt showing. The sand-plain country has its own appeal with a huge range of species that might not be so in your face, but are fascinating in their own right. Many of the plants are smaller but intriguing and unique, no less interesting to the serious wildflower seeker. Camera close-ups can convert a small subject into an exceptional eye-catching image to wow friends and cajole you to keeping going with the box-brownie.
The trick is to stop along the road and take a short walk into the scrub. Just a few metres off the beaten track you'll be surrounded by a fantastic display. Road verges can be a goldmine. Getting good images can be challenging with wind and light playing their tricks. It makes successes all the more satisfying and having you back for more.
When the spring showing is winding down, it's not all over. Out in the mallee country of the eastern wheatbelt and the Yilgarn goldfields, the eucalypts commence their flowering with perfect timing so as not to compete too much with the smaller species. From the whiter than white of the Eastern Talleracks to the shades of cream through pale yellows and pinks, the eucalypts amaze. (Tip.. go for a walk and be fascinated by the exotic insect life getting stuck into the flowers!) And there are always plenty of the smaller flower types to add to the show. It can all go on into early summer. What a year for the bush-travelling wildflower fan!
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 12:48:13 PM
Well written post JocknNick, thank you, we were at the free camp (in camps book) at Kwolin (between Bruce Rock and Quairading) two days ago and there was a good variety of different types of wildflowers including spider orchids. We had done parts of the Granite Loop further north mostly daisy's and wattles where we went. Great new CP (6 powered bays) at Nungarin. Like you say, the road verges have a great display also without travelling off the bitumen and although not wildflowers the Canola being in flower makes it a pleasant drive.
jules47 said
05:28 PM Sep 7, 2016
Saw wreath flowers when we were over a couple of years ago - amazing the limited places they can grow. Saw lots of other gorgeous flowers as well, but really did not know what they were - i.e.what is the tiny purple flower in your pics, JocknNik - saw some but again did not know what they were.
kandagal said
07:33 PM Sep 7, 2016
If you look at those wildflowers closely you'd think they were designed by a committee
Treecrest14 said
08:23 PM Sep 7, 2016
Heard on the ABC today that there are some Wreath Flowers out in Kings Park - Perth
JocknNik said
09:58 PM Sep 7, 2016
Weevil, thanks for that. Yes, just about everywhere in the south west of the state is in bloom. I'm with you on canola. Great to see the fields in yellow glow. It has a distinctive smell too, that always reminds me of time spent on farms.
Jules, wreath flowers are the iconic WA bloom. I saw my first only a couple seasons ago. They've been elusive. The pic was taken east of Coorow in a disused gravel pit. Seems they like that sort of ground. If you mean the bush, it's Blue Leschenaultia. The other pinkish purple flowers are Climbing Fringe Lilies, a favourite of mine. By the way, I'm no expert on wildflower i.d. I cheat a lot with a series of small books by Eddie Wajon. Awful handy little volumes. And of course there's the web.
Kandagal , ain't nature grand?!
Glen, that's good news. We might go looking..
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 09:59:38 PM
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 10:06:05 PM
Meredith said
01:51 PM Sep 8, 2016
We are at Ceduna today, heading west tomorrow and will be in WA, mainly the southern half, until December. The wildflowers one of the main reasons we picked this time of year to go there, so really pleased to hear its a good year for them.
jules47 said
04:41 PM Sep 8, 2016
Thanks JocknNik - I feel very lucky that I saw the wreath flowers on our first trip over West. Wouldn't have found them, but met with another GN at War Rock, who loaned us a mud map, which we photographed on the phone.
The WA "Christmas Tree" is a magnificent species as well - it is apparently some sort of parasite growth - but gorgeous nonetheless. It comes out in October(ish), and disappears just after Christmas.
This was taken at our camp spot at Sufil's place in Seabird.
Meredith, I think you might have hit the jackpot with wildflowers this year. I can't be sure how it will be that side of Norseman. But they've had rains right through the arid country so it should be in bloom. Of course the best is, say, the run up Great Northern Highway from Wubin to Meekatharra and maybe beyond. South of Cue is usually fantastic! If it's too far out of the way, the run up Brand Highway is pretty good too.
Jules, the Christmas tree is another western icon. They're part of the mistletoe family and get attached to another tree to parasite the roots. I think they can survive alone when they get to a certain age. Bit like us really
Having said that, I don't want to think about it!
-- Edited by JocknNik on Friday 9th of September 2016 02:25:20 AM
-- Edited by JocknNik on Friday 9th of September 2016 02:29:33 AM
Bryan said
07:07 PM Sep 9, 2016
This year we chose the North East Wheatbelt area. Flowers were prolific in their variety and colour. As usual I left the picture taking to Kathy.
You won't get a better year for wildflowers in the Wild West! After a great start to our winter, the mid- and lower-West's wildflower showing is at its best. The phenomenon of the early winter rain bands streaming from the tropical Indian Ocean this year doesn't happen very often. It's got things fired up exceptionally, both in the red dirt country and sand plains north of Perth. Photographs of those phenomenal carpets of Everlastings and Immortelles are run out by the tourist honchos as a lure, but it's not just about that amazing red-dirt showing. The sand-plain country has its own appeal with a huge range of species that might not be so in your face, but are fascinating in their own right. Many of the plants are smaller but intriguing and unique, no less interesting to the serious wildflower seeker. Camera close-ups can convert a small subject into an exceptional eye-catching image to wow friends and cajole you to keeping going with the box-brownie.
The trick is to stop along the road and take a short walk into the scrub. Just a few metres off the beaten track you'll be surrounded by a fantastic display. Road verges can be a goldmine. Getting good images can be challenging with wind and light playing their tricks. It makes successes all the more satisfying and having you back for more.
When the spring showing is winding down, it's not all over. Out in the mallee country of the eastern wheatbelt and the Yilgarn goldfields, the eucalypts commence their flowering with perfect timing so as not to compete too much with the smaller species. From the whiter than white of the Eastern Talleracks to the shades of cream through pale yellows and pinks, the eucalypts amaze. (Tip.. go for a walk and be fascinated by the exotic insect life getting stuck into the flowers!) And there are always plenty of the smaller flower types to add to the show. It can all go on into early summer. What a year for the bush-travelling wildflower fan!
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 12:48:13 PM
Weevil, thanks for that. Yes, just about everywhere in the south west of the state is in bloom. I'm with you on canola. Great to see the fields in yellow glow. It has a distinctive smell too, that always reminds me of time spent on farms.
Jules, wreath flowers are the iconic WA bloom. I saw my first only a couple seasons ago. They've been elusive. The pic was taken east of Coorow in a disused gravel pit. Seems they like that sort of ground. If you mean the bush, it's Blue Leschenaultia. The other pinkish purple flowers are Climbing Fringe Lilies, a favourite of mine. By the way, I'm no expert on wildflower i.d. I cheat a lot with a series of small books by Eddie Wajon. Awful handy little volumes. And of course there's the web.
Kandagal , ain't nature grand?!
Glen, that's good news. We might go looking..
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 09:59:38 PM
-- Edited by JocknNik on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 10:06:05 PM
Thanks JocknNik - I feel very lucky that I saw the wreath flowers on our first trip over West. Wouldn't have found them, but met with another GN at War Rock, who loaned us a mud map, which we photographed on the phone.
The WA "Christmas Tree" is a magnificent species as well - it is apparently some sort of parasite growth - but gorgeous nonetheless. It comes out in October(ish), and disappears just after Christmas.
This was taken at our camp spot at Sufil's place in Seabird.
Meredith, I think you might have hit the jackpot with wildflowers this year. I can't be sure how it will be that side of Norseman. But they've had rains right through the arid country so it should be in bloom. Of course the best is, say, the run up Great Northern Highway from Wubin to Meekatharra and maybe beyond. South of Cue is usually fantastic! If it's too far out of the way, the run up Brand Highway is pretty good too.
Jules, the Christmas tree is another western icon. They're part of the mistletoe family and get attached to another tree to parasite the roots. I think they can survive alone when they get to a certain age. Bit like us really
Having said that, I don't want to think about it!
-- Edited by JocknNik on Friday 9th of September 2016 02:25:20 AM
-- Edited by JocknNik on Friday 9th of September 2016 02:29:33 AM
This year we chose the North East Wheatbelt area. Flowers were prolific in their variety and colour. As usual I left the picture taking to Kathy.