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

Purple hyacinth orchid (Dipodium punctatum) at Mystery Bay, NSW. Only one plant out and only just starting to flower in late February near the ocean. I usually see this species flowering nearby from late November - this is probably the latest flowering I have seen (although it can apparently flower into March at some locations).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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