Hassans Lookout - Lithgow. 11th October 2013.

The main reason for today's destination was because of a sign at the lookout which states that there are some 50 species of orchid to found here. I think that I will have to make several more trips to find the other 47.

Temperatures, some 9 degrees cooler than home, made this a pleasant place to be on this hot spring day.

Foot note: I believe this area has been spared in the recent bushfires around Lithgow (23/10/2013).

 

Click on photos to enlarge.

 

 

One of the Native Pea Flowers (family Fabaceae) but not sure which one.

 

Thelionema caespitosum  - 
Tufted Blue Lily,  Tufted Lily.

 

Rupicola apiculata   (no common name).

 

Leucochrysum albicans  -  Hoary Sunray.

 

Daviesia latifolia  - Broad-leaf Bitter-pea, Hop Bitter-pea.

 

Ozothamnus diosmifolius  -
 Rice Flower, White Dogwood, Pill Flower, Sago Bush, Ball Everlasting.

 

Pretty sure this is Thelymitra pauciflora
- Slender Sun Orchid.

Pretty sure this is the white form of Thelymitra pauciflora -
 Slender Sun Orchid, as above.

 

Phebalium squamulosum subsp. ozothamnoides  -
  Everlasting Pheballium,  Alpine Phebalium.

 

Stypandra glauca  -  Nodding Blue Lily.

 

Xerochrysum viscosum  - 
Sticky Everlasting, Yellow Paper Daisy, Shiny Everlasting.

 

Stegostyla gracilis  -  Musky Caladenia.

Stegostyla gracilis  -  Musky Caladenia, as above.



Conospermum ellipticum  -  Coneseeds,  Heath Smokebush.

 

Philotheca obovalis  -  Silky Wax-flower, Fairy Wax-flower.

 

Patersonia sericea  -  Native Iris, Silky Purple Flag.
This was growing out of the rock-face.

 

Leptospermum sp.       (can anyone tell me if this is  L.blakelyi )  not sure.

 

A collection of Lichens.

 

Thelymitra ixioides  - Spotted Sun Orchid, Blue Sun Orchid.

 

Daviesia ulicifolia  -  Gorse Bitter Pea.

 

Hibbertia empetrifolia  -  Trailing Guinea Flower. (not 100% sure).

Boronia microphylla  -  Small Leaf Boronia.

TODAY'S  LANDSCAPE / HABITAT.



Hassans Walls Lookout is the highest in the Blue Mountains at approx. 1,100 metres (3600ft).

 

 

 

When is a seat not a seat.

 

 

The plants were photographed on the points left and right, and behind and under this point.

Hassans Walls, from the 'Second Lookout'.

FEATHERS, FUR and FANG.                 Some Of The Wildlife Seen Today.

 

Beetle could be a Procrisina sp. (Leaf Beetle).
The oil glands in the Tea Tree leaf can be easily see back lit by the sun.

Stigmodera macularia, one of the Jewel Beetles.

2 species of Leptomyrmex ants.

Ants looking for a meal on a everlasting daisy.

Not sure if it's a wasp or a bee.

A fly also drops in.

I only have eyes for you.

Nest of a Rock Warbler, hanging from the ceiling in the old toilet block.

One of the Bee Flies.

Could have been tonight's dinner.

I'm sure I had 2 arms when I left home.
At the closed 'Second Lookout'.

Tulips to Rainforest - Bowral and Robertson. 4th October 2013.

Today's outing saw some conflicting aspects of the flora world. On one side is the almost obscene, but very colourful, manipulation of the genus Tulipa (Tulips). The other side is more the natural, plants in the raw, some colourful, some plain, but the excitement comes in finding them like the little orchids hanging on to the exposed rocks high above the valley far below.

So from the brightly coloured regimented rows of Tulips at the Corbett Gardens in Bowral to the Robertson Rainforest (Endangered Ecological Community) and Hindmarsh Lookout / Belmore Falls, also at Robertson .

                    (A lesson learnt today, always check to make sure the lens of the camera are clean, it's too late when you are checking the photos on the computer).

Click on photos to enlarge.



These were once more expensive than gold.

 



All the colours of the rainbow. There would have been a better display
last week as the hot weather was now starting to take it's toll on the blooms.

 



Like ice-cream with just a little strawberry flavouring.

 



 

Wow, reminds me of the hot colours from the 70's.

 



 

Looks like a character from the Muppets.

 

Twice the colour.

 

Add caption

 

I did like this one.

 



 

Tulip variety 'Connoisseur'.

 

Tulip variety 'Angelique'.

 

Cherry blossom and Japanese Maple.

 

A flowering cherry in a private Bowral garden catches Lynn's eye.

 

Check out the number of blooms on this Waratah in a garden
at Robertson.

 



Fragrant Fern in the Robertson rainforest.  

 

   Kangaroo Fern in the Robertson rainforest.

 

 Scrambling Lily in the Robertson rainforest.

 

One of the native peas, but not sure which one.

  

 

Dockrillia striolata -  Streaked Rock Orchid on cliff at Hindmarsh Lookout.
You can get an idea of the orchids size by comparing them to the cigarette butt that some grub has thrown on the rock, and
people wonder how bushfires start!

 

Dockrillia striolata -  Streaked Rock Orchid.

 

Dampiera sp.

Goodenia ovata  -  Hop Goodenia.

 

Mirbelia rubiifolia  -
 Heathy Mirbelia, Wallum Mirbelia.

 

TODAY'S  LANDSCAPE / HABITAT.

Belmore Falls

Hindmarsh Lookout