Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve

by Xerraire · 10/11/2016

Southern Beekeepers Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 240 kilometres (149 mi) north of Perth.

From 1889 until it was officially closed in 1971, a stock route between Dongara and Perth ran through what is now Southern Beekeeper’s Nature Reserve and Nambung National Park. Southern Beekeeper’s was gazetted by the Department of Lands and Surveys, Western Australia in 1979, “for the purpose of ‘Apiculture and Conservation of Flora’.”Officially the reserve did not have a name, but was known locally as Southern Beekeeper’s as beekeeping had been taking place in the area for generations, with beekeepers starting on the coastal plains during the spring, then moving on as the season progressed.

After our stop in Cervantes, it was nice to get out again and have a look at the color in Western Australia.

Banksia sessilis, commonly known as parrot bush

Hybanthus calycinus or native violet.

Tripterococcus brunonis (formerly Stackhousia brunonis) Winged Stackhousia. I was told they are often called “Moon Flowers” because at night they send out the most beautiful perfume.

Posy Triggerplant (Stylidium crossocephalum)

As mentioned HERE, triggerplants are so very cool:

A triggerplant has a spring-loaded touch-sensitive column hidden under the petals which flicks over when an insect lands on the flower for a feed of nectar.

At the end of this column is the male and female parts of the flower. (anther and stigma)

This action either deposits or collects pollen depending on the cycle of the plant.

The pollen filled anthers (male) appears first on the young flower, then as it matures the sticky stigma (female) takes over and is ready to collect pollen. This cycle prevents self pollination.