New season orchids on Kalkari Trail - two : September 5 2026
Got a hot day lining up - forecast is for 33C - not what one expects in the first week of September. My wife headed out to see her brother. I took the train to walk Mt Colah side of Ku-ring Gai Chase NP to check an orchid seen budding last week. My friend said it was open. Was concerned with big wind forecast it would be gone
A few garden flowers on the way down from the station - a tree full of waratah flowers. Will be on the lookout in the bush
Big display of Sydney rock orchids - dendrobium speciosum. Will check the spots in the park down the hill in the next few days
Did not quite get to 33C - was 30C - breezy made it feel comfortable enough
Sweet pittosporum I think
Onion grass flowering low in the grass. Saw the big sign saying Total Fire Ban - tracks and trails closed - hazard reduction burn. Figured it was the same warning as yesterday on different tracks. Road into the park was open. Walked around tona side track to avoid the entry gate
Grey spider grevillea
Wedge pea flower
Dampiera purpurea
Eucalyptus running red sap - often a sign of distress - not been a bad season. Good rains but not too much. Not hot yet
Bug time on a wedge pea flower
Dusky fingers orchid popped up in a known spot - first for the season
Side on - caladenia carnea - the carmine bands are distinctive
A few leptospermum squarrosum open
One spotted sun orchid found
Purple tuft on one of the flowers - thelymitra ixioides
The target orchid for the walk is flowering - stands just over two foot tall - flowering up from the bottom with a few buds to go
Front on - prasophyllum elatum - first time seen flowering on this track
Side on view
And the bonus right there - a white fingers orchid. Caladenia catenata
Kept walking to find small waxlip orchids - caladenia glossodia - found two only
Grass flowering - happy with what is always a tough photo subject
Came back to get leek orchid photos with better light angles. Sure pleased I did that
Standing tall
First of the burchardia umbrellata flowering this side - milk maids
Pea flower cluster
A few sundew flowers - smaller than a US penny
Walked the Chase Trail a bit to find one more orchid. Saw them last year. Found one just opening - caladenia alata - fairy fingers
A flash of yellow - pomadaris - not sure of the detail.
Big walk on a hot day. Breeze helped
Did cook dinner - butter chicken
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Height183 cm | Weight90 kg | Body Fat% | |||
Waistcm | Thighscm | Chestcm |