Foggy Start to Wongan Hills in Western Australia
Wongan Hills is a rural town located two hours’ drive (or 185 kilometers) northeast of Perth and is the center of a prosperous grain, sheep and pig farming district. The town takes its name from the range of flat topped hills lying to the northwest. These hills are the largest single area of natural vegetation remaining in the northern Wheatbelt.
I love our escapes to the country, but this particular Saturday, we didn’t have too promising a start.
This was our visibility in Perth as we started out.
As we moved from suburbia to the country, the fog didn’t diminish much.
Before we reached Wongan Hills, we stopped at one of our favorite orchid spots, Rica Erickson Reserve. The spider orchids were out.
So were the jug orchids. (Pterostylis recurva)
The cowslips were pushing through wildflowers, of which there are many at the reserve.
There were a few Blue China Orchids as well.
Dampiera
The Christmas Rock Walk Trail is a scenic nature trail through the bushland and beautiful wildflowers just outside of Wongan Hills. There is a 40 minute walk to the rock wall that is used to divert water down to the town dam. Not sure we took the walk as mapped out.
Grevillea Petrophiloides or Pink Pokers. You can see them everywhere at Wongan Hills.
So many acacias at Wongan Hills but this is always so striking with its bold yellow.
Another kind of acacia.
These were found in clusters on top of Christmas Rock! Thelymitra antennifera – Lemon-scented Sun Orchid.
A closer look. Has been known as Vanilla Orchid
Calytrix aurea. Starflower. Yellow upright small shrub.
Coming down from the rock, we saw these very wispy spider orchids that the wind was blowing them all around. Caladenia denticulata – Yellow Spider Orchid.
Caladenia denticulata – Yellow Spider Orchid
Leaving the Christmas Rock trail we stopped at a car park that had a LOT of ants.
Oh heck, it was worth a video…
We felt sympathy for the soul who parked their truck right in the midst of them. When they get back, they will truly have a challenge to get into their vehicle!
Headed back home towards Toodyay, we usually stop that this house in the middle of a wheat field.
Loved the galahs in the tree.
Well I guess it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Another stop to photograph Canola growing on a hill.
Across from the Canola, on the other side of the road, horses were eating in a field. That took a quick turn when someone when by with a very loud noise and the horses were spooked and ran fast.
Well who cares if it’s a weed? It’s purple and the sun was lighting it just right. Echium plantagineum, commonly known as purple viper’s-bugloss or Paterson’s curse, is a species of Echium native to western and southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia
The afternoon sun on the weed was just perfect.
Just as interesting as the field of weeds, was the sheep watching us across the road.
