Glen Ryan

Ratibida columnifera (upright prairie coneflower / 'Mexican hat') in the nursery

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

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

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) + sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, E. Gippsland, VIC. Only made it down south on 3 mornings this spring but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus several new orchids!) #orchids #inthefield

I might be in trouble then ... don't mind posting the occasional orchid ;)

No I haven't tried to delete it yet - but have stopped posting on it ... just doing Mastodon and Bluesky moving forward. Might see what I can delete in the new year .....

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

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

Sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variation near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variation near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variation near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, E. Gippsland, VIC. Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early Nov at this location - usually in slightly damper soils #orchids #inthefield

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

Rosy hyacinth orchid (Dipodium roseum) still flowering at Christmas, Corunna, NSW. Only a few small scattered plants out this yr at home with almost no meaningful spring rainfall + a dry start to summer. But quite a few larger flowering stems out on roadside verges between Tilba and Narooma #orchids

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

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 finished #orchids

Dipodium variegatum flowering at Corunna, NSW - summer orchids 2025.

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 flowering at all after a dry spring. However in recent weeks several new flower spikes have emerged later than usual - but with only 2 or 3 flowers #orchids

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

Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, E. Gippsland, VIC. Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing near T. carnea + species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids - including T. x irregularis (top right) #orchids

Yeah G. robusta can be a bit marginal in CBR when young (used to have a massive one backyard at Waramanga!) Looking at the 9 grafted grev varieties in stock this morning not sure any are 'ideal' for CBR but WA species G. leptobotrys, G. exelsior, G. bipinnatifida, G. leucopteris maybe worth a try

We usually have at least 10-12 grafted grev varieties in stock in the nursery at Tilba Tilba, NSW - they do pretty well at the coast + lot of the WA sp. can also do well in CBR on G. robusta rootstock. Heavy frost can knock them back though -tested a big range of grafts in CBR gardens a few yrs back

Grevillea candelabroides (grafted) flowering in the garden at Corunna, NSW.

Grevillea candelabroides (grafted) flowering in the garden at Corunna, NSW. This beautiful WA species features attractive foliage and large sprays of creamy white flowers (which are scented). Grafted plants are a good option in the east but are not often seen in nurseries #grevilleas #ozplants

Late flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Late flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Not sure if slightly different lobes on these plants are just a result of aging - or something different. Only saw one plant like this on the last trip. #orchids #inthefield

Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only one roadside plant out at this location with fewer spots and richer colours than other nearby populations.I haven't seen this beautiful natural hybrid here before.

#orchids #inthefield

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. This uncommon species tends to be very shy to flower - usually only see one or two flowers open briefly on warm/humid mornings. A nice patch of plants at this location but only one flower open. #orchids #inthefield

Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house, Corunna, NSW.

Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house, Corunna, NSW. Flowers are very small - standard Aussie fly included for scale. Grows here alongside a robust form of M. parviflora (slender onion orchid) which has much longer flowering stems #orchids

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Slightly different form of this beautiful naturally occurring hybrid (thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea) compared to plants growing further west near Genoa. Only a couple of plants out #orchids

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC

Double ducks west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Didn't see a lot of large duck orchids (Caleana major) on my couple of brief East Gippsland trips this year but did see scattered plants in full flight at a couple of locations. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Some nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, VIC. I've decided to go with sun orchids with spots rather than spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) as there are maybe just as many plants at this location that could also be T. juncifolia - or hybrids #orchids

Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. I only made it down for a brief visit at the start of November this year so a lot of plants were not out in full flower when I was there. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW. After what looked like a goodish start to the flowering season only one plant on the road in actually made it to full-flowering - the very dry spring affected most other plants around the property. #orchids #cymbidium

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong NP, VIC.

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong NP, VIC. Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) are common nearby but in open grassland some smaller-flowering forms are maybe closer to the very similar Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid) #orchids

Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) out in the light rain at Corunna, NSW.

Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) out in the light rain at Corunna, NSW. Dipodium are the most visible summer orchids around Corunna with 3 x species growing locally. This patch of D. roseum next to the track behind the house are usually the the first ones out most years #Orchids #OzPlants

Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Flowers only open briefly on warm humid mornings and then close before midday. Usually starts to flower at this location just as the other local sun orchids have finished - only saw 1 plant this year #orchids

Roadside onion orchids (Microtis sp.) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Roadside onion orchids (Microtis sp.) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Maybe M. parviflora although some recent reclassifications split this widespread species into 3 x species in VIC. Tip of little finger here for scale - individual flowers are very small! #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Have seen one or two pink forms at this location in past years but haven't seen them every spring. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC.

Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. Most of the trigger plants out here were this very attractive pale-flowering form with tall flower spikes.
#Orchids #Stylidium #InTheField

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea.

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea (which both grow nearby). Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see plants flowering at several locations this spring #orchids

Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. These two small sun orchids combine to form some interesting hybrids at this location but I didn't see any out this year on my quick visit #orchids