Early-flowering Orchids of Macquarie Pass and Albion Park

This morning I took my Orchid colleague, Bruce Smith down the hill, to Macquarie Pass, and on to Croom Reserve, at Albion Park, to see some of the local Orchids.

Pterostylis hildae

Pterostylis hildae

Pterostylis hildae

A lovely dark specimen of the Maroonhood, Pterostylis pedunculata

Pterostylis pedunculata

Pterostylis pedunculata

Pterostylis pedunculata

Bruce photographing a nice specimen of Pt. curta.

Pterostylis curta,
showing its famous twisted labellum

Pterostylis curta,
showing its famous twisted labellum
and in this case the "pollinia" are visible

Pterostylis curta,
this species has much fatter "bum"
than Pterostylis hildae

 Just a few of these small-flowered Black-tipped Greenhoods were in flower.

Hymenochilus bicolor

A nice grouping of Hymenochilus bicolor

Gentle sunset (when the wind had dropped)

Two nights ago, I caught this gentle sunset from the back deck.
Just lovely, especially after the tough weather we had had for most of the week before.

14 August 2012 at 5:31pm.

Daphne hits my nose every afternoon.

With scented plants, I generally like to grow them close to the front door, so I get to smell them when I walk out from, or into, the house. In the case of my Daphne, I almost regret that, just at present.

The scent is so strong it literally "stings" my nose (and perhaps my eyes).

It is only a low-growing plant, a small shrub, so it does not physically "hit my nose". But if you are familiar with the Daphne odora, you probably understand why I have written that.

Daphne odora - seen from my front deck

Daphne odora - close up of flowers

Daphne odora - close up of flowers

The strength of its perfume is dependent upon a number of factors.

• Wind - strong wind, such as we endured last week, disperses the perfume "bubble" which normally surrounds the plant.
• Humidity - in late afternoons, as humidity rises, the scent becomes much more prominent.
• age of the flowers. My plant opened its first flowers last week, and so these flower heads are still maturing, and are just about to reach their peak. So its perfume strength is now at its maximum. As the open flowers age, it will lessen in the strength of its perfume.

There are a number of commonly grown "Species Daphnes", D. x burkwoodi (technically a hybrid, but a nice, small plant and readily available in specialist plant Nurseries in Australia); D. cneorum, and D. mezereum. There are many more "species" of Daphnes, but most will be of interest only to "collectors" of rare and unusual plants.
 

There are also some common varieties of the D. odora, which have white flowers, and some with variegated leaves.

Incidentally, my ceramicist friend, Celeste taught me something about Daphne, through one of her ceramic art works. She insists on shaping any Daphne figures she might make, with a plant root growing out from her leg (or is it really the other way round?)

According to ancient Greek mythology "Daphne prays for help either to the river god Peneus or to Gaia, and is transformed into a laurel (Laurus nobilis): "a heavy numbness seized her limbs, thin bark closed over her breasts, her hair turned into leaves, her arms into branches, her feet so swift a moment ago stuck fast in slow-growing roots, her face was lost in the canopy. Only her shining beauty was left."

Bernini's sculpture of Daphne and Apollo
Out of artistic enthusiasm,
Bernini left Daphne's breast fully visible
and nicely shaped, if I might say so.

The God who pursued Daphne was Apollo. So, the laurel became sacred to Apollo, and crowned the victors at the Pythian Games. This is the origin of crowning the ancient Olympic champions with wreaths of Laurel leaves.

So, there is an Olympic connection in this post, which is timely.

Daphnes are not classed as related to Laurels, botanically, but there is an obvious similarity in leaf shape, so we can forgive the ancient Greeks for some slight confusion. 

Daphne plants are said to be poisonous in all their parts, so do not attempt to use Daphne instead of a "Bay Leaf" in your next custard.

Why my Magnolia never flowers.

I grow a lovely dark-flowered form of Magnolia x soulangeana. It might not be this exact form, but it is close in colour and form to "Mag x soulangeana var. "Lennei".

Trouble is, I selected this plant, and grew it on for a while, in Canberra. But in Canberra I did not have Satin Bowerbirds in my yard.

Now I live amongst an active flock of these birds, and they love my Magnolia flowers. They eat them at the tight bud stage, long before the flowers ever get to open fully.

This afternoon, in howling winds, the cunning Bowerbirds sat amongst the dense foliage of the Camellias (to get protection from the winds), but they can reach out and pick at the buds of the Magnolias in the next bush. I even saw one of the "green birds" feeding a choice tidbit to another "green bird".

Bowerbird hiding in Camellia
Bronze colours on wing visible
above spotted abdomen.

 

Gorgeous deep pink Magnolia flower bud
(one of the few buds not yet eaten)
Photo taken through Study window,
looking through another deciduous tree.

On another subject, it is my self-appointed duty as chronicler of weather and other natural phenomena of Robertson, to record that the "August Winds" have arrived in August this year. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather alert, and fire fighters are attempting to control a bushfire on Bulli Tops, near Maddens Plains, south from Helensburgh (on the exposed top of the Woronora Plateau).

The strong winds are the main problem facing the Firies and the SES. Lets wish them the best in bringing this fire under control.

Pterostylis hildae - the Rainforest Greenhood

This Greenhood (Pterostylis hildae) is unusual in that it likes to live in clearings in heavy wet Eucalypt forest and rainforest, halfway down Macquarie Pass. It is at the southern end of its range here. I have not found this species growing on top of the Robertson "plateau", but it is always possible that it might occur here, or a little further up than where I found it. For example, I would expect that it might be found around Vandenbergh Road, or on Knights Hill, or out at the top of the Jamberoo Pass (near the Barren Grounds, but not in the heathland there).

Pterostylis hildae

side view of Pterostylis hildae

Rear view of Pterostylis hildae

Note the slightly pointed "galea" (hood)
of Pterostylis hildae

Also the bronze colouration on the tip
of Pterostylis hildae

This colony of Pterostylis hildae has not flowered well, this season. It has been quite dry for the last two months. That would appear to have limited their flowering, this season, compared to last year, when there were literally hundreds in flower in this particular locality.

This species is closely related to Pterostylis curta, but that species has a larger, heavier flower, and a distinctive twisted labellum.

Camellias coming through for Spring

Camellias, some of my favourite shrubs, are a mixed bunch.
The earliest flowering group are the "Sasanquas". They start to flower here (in Robertson) in late autumn. In Sydney they flower earlier.
 

I grow many Williamsii hybrid Camellias, because I like the colour range they give, and also their flowers are not so heavy as the traditional fully double forms my parents grew. Apart from anything, the Williamsii hybrids are less prone to "balling" (where the flowers do not open properly)

Here are just a few "snaps" of some of my Camellias.

Camellia saluensis - one of the parents of the Williamsii hybrids

Typical of this group the flowers fall cleanly on the ground
That leaves this delightful effect
and it keeps the plants "clean" of dead flowers.
The Bowerbirds are happy to eat the fallen flowers

Unfortunately I am not sure of the name of this one.
But what a delightful fresh flower.
These open flowers yield nectar, which keeps the
Brush Wattlebirds and Lewin's Honeyeaters happy.
In turn they pollinate the flowers, giving me chance seedlings.

Bowen Bryant - a lovely fresh pink Williamsii hybrid

"Donation" a prolific flowering Williamsii Hybrid

Camellia Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes
The hardest name to remember
and even worse to spell.
This particular variety is popular here,

as its flowers go purple as they age,
on our red basalt soil.
This one is yet to change.

There are many more Camellias yet to flower.
I will show more later on in the season.

Modern alchemy - turning sewerage into gold.

Some little time ago I warned that the Daleks had arrived in Robertson. I identified the nest of Dalek Eggs in my Blog.

As the people of Robertson have, collectively, failed to protect themselves against this Alien Invasion, they ought not be surprised that today, the Dalek Eggs had started to hatch, and some have now left their nest. They are starting to invade the village of Robertson.

This Dalek has invaded my friend George's yard.

And another in a neighbour's property.

And another.

The rear side of this Dalek.

Incidentally, I am reliably informed that these Daleks are not exactly anthropivorous - they will not eat you. These Daleks are coprophytic - meaning they live on "dung or fecal material".

However, their Masters (the Wingecarribee Shire Council) are dependent for their existence, upon Rate Revenue, and they see these Daleks as integral to the future collection of Water and Sewerage Rates from you, the good people of Robertson.

As Napoleon Bonaparte said: “When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they (the bankers) and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.”

So, in a very direct sense, these Daleks are agents for collecting revenue from you - turning your sewage into gold - the modern form of Alchemy.

********************

Post Script:

An explanation is warranted.
These tanks will be the individual collection tanks and pumping systems for the Robertson Sewerage Scheme.
A massively over-engineered system (or "over-engineered in order to cope with bad planning decisions in the first step"), complete with a centralised treatment plant located on top of a hill above the Village.
Yes we will be "pushing shit up hill".
 

Isn't there an aphorism about that?
Enough said.

Further note: I am "reliably informed" that the engineer in charge of designing and building the Robertson Sewerage Scheme is shortly to leave the employment of the Wingecarribee Shire. 

If that report is true, my only comment is that if Council had listened to the voices of the local residents, rather than people with an ideological fixation about sewerage disposal, in the first place, the stupid decisions which were made at the very outset could have been overturned, and all this potentially flawed system with these "satellite pumps" and the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) on top of a hill could have been avoided. And Council could have dispensed with the services of the particular engineer some 10 years ago, and we could have got a simple gravity feed system.
 

After all, we were assured that the Robertson Sewerage Scheme would be a State of the Art, environmentally sensitive system, using natural reed bed filtration, etc. Sounded wonderful.

We have ended up with a totally artificial treatment plant on a concrete slab, inside a steel shed, on top of a hill. Noise and smell will be ongoing issues to be dealt with.

And this system requires regular pump-outs, to allow solid material to be removed. The access road to the STP is narrow and steep and then it requires a re-build of the bridge over Caalang*** Creek (on Caalong*** Street), before such heavy vehicles can safely leave the village.
(*** Yes the creek and the street are spelled differently).

Not only does this system require a holding tank at the bottom end of the village, with a pump to force the untreated sewage up hill, through narrow pipes, under great pressure. 

It also requires a creek crossing, which is the greatest weak point in the system's design, for any spill will take untreated sewage straight into the local drinking water supply, 2 Km downstream, in Wingecarribee Reservoir.

The location of the STP on top of the hill then requires a further creek crossing (yet another weak point in the design) for the treated effluent to be pumped down the hill, across the creek, about 8 Km of pipes to get the effluent to a point below the Wingecarribee Dam, where the effluent can be "safely disposed of".