Day came out blue sky. I was busy doing stuff and saw the clouds starting to build. Checked the forecast - rain coming. I got on the bike to check two orchid spots - two budding last week and the other suggested by FB memories

First find is a sun orchid not seen last week - zoom in and you will find a green insect in the petals

Zoomed in - flower is thelymitra ixioides

A few native violets

Walked under the powerlines on a side track not walked before - a few small waxlip orchids on the way

This track took me into a big residential development called Oxford Landings - it is hidden away and very large

No path through to keep going under the powerlines - had to double back

Patersonia iris

Some contrast photos of caladenia glossodia - check the position of the two lateral sepals (the two at the bottom) - these are spread wide.

These are closer together - also the colour blending of the labellum is different

Found a few more sun orchids standing tall in the grass under the powerlines. Observe the ant on the right - did not see when I took the picture

I have not seen thelymitra ixioides in this sector before

Study the horse tail tufts on photos before - a bug ate this one

This is the sun orchid I went to check on - fully open this week

The exciting part of the mission was finding this orchid open - tall leek orchid

Prasophyllum elatum - love the frills

Side on.

Found more sun orchids on the way back - never seen them this close to the start of the walk.

Blunt greenhood is now closing up shop - see the swollen seed pod below the flower

Got back on the bike to ride across to another slice of the park to look for caladenias

Found a pinkish form of the sun orchid

Colour matching the flowers before

One more sun orchid - photo shows how close they are to the track edges

There are lot of pink wax flowers open. This one caught my eye as the plant has taken root in a crack in a rock - plant is 3 inches tall and flowering. All the others are 3 foot tall. Nature funds a way

I did find the little white flower I was looking for on the way back - in a known spot. Missed it on the way down. White flower and a spike and a bud above

Caladenia alata - first for the season

Moved the bud spike out of between the petals

There were two flowers - I like to find two in a spot

Also looking for next week’s finds - most likely a sun orchid.

Using the bike is a great way to access the park - two spots done. Trip was a lot longer than normal as I got chatting to two different copules walking - they hunt orchids now. It did rain a little

We went out to Sydney Rowing Club to have dinner with a friend’s daughter. Only the 5th time I have eaten out in two years

This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io 31/08/2022 12147 Cycling, Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking