Glen Ryan
Glen Ryan - he/him - wild orchids, Australian flora, landscape art, gardening, head of Parks & Rec at the independent republic of Corunna, NSW. Native plant management at Tilba Nursery, NSW. Commercial imaging + fine-art prints at Silver Dory Productions.
- Large duck orchid (Caleana major) + sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, E. Gippsland, VIC. Only made it down south on 3 mornings this spring but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus several new orchids!) #orchids #inthefield
- 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
- A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, E. Gippsland, VIC. Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early Nov at this location - usually in slightly damper soils #orchids #inthefield
- Rosy hyacinth orchid (Dipodium roseum) still flowering at Christmas, Corunna, NSW. Only a few small scattered plants out this yr at home with almost no meaningful spring rainfall + a dry start to summer. But quite a few larger flowering stems out on roadside verges between Tilba and Narooma #orchids
- 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 finished #orchids
- 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 flowering at all after a dry spring. However in recent weeks several new flower spikes have emerged later than usual - but with only 2 or 3 flowers #orchids
- Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, E. Gippsland, VIC. Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing near T. carnea + species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids - including T. x irregularis (top right) #orchids
- Grevillea candelabroides (grafted) flowering in the garden at Corunna, NSW. This beautiful WA species features attractive foliage and large sprays of creamy white flowers (which are scented). Grafted plants are a good option in the east but are not often seen in nurseries #grevilleas #ozplants
- Late flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Not sure if slightly different lobes on these plants are just a result of aging - or something different. Only saw one plant like this on the last trip. #orchids #inthefield
- Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC. Only one roadside plant out at this location with fewer spots and richer colours than other nearby populations.I haven't seen this beautiful natural hybrid here before. #orchids #inthefield
- Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. This uncommon species tends to be very shy to flower - usually only see one or two flowers open briefly on warm/humid mornings. A nice patch of plants at this location but only one flower open. #orchids #inthefield
- Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house, Corunna, NSW. Flowers are very small - standard Aussie fly included for scale. Grows here alongside a robust form of M. parviflora (slender onion orchid) which has much longer flowering stems #orchids
- Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Slightly different form of this beautiful naturally occurring hybrid (thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea) compared to plants growing further west near Genoa. Only a couple of plants out #orchids
- Double ducks west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Didn't see a lot of large duck orchids (Caleana major) on my couple of brief East Gippsland trips this year but did see scattered plants in full flight at a couple of locations. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, VIC. I've decided to go with sun orchids with spots rather than spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) as there are maybe just as many plants at this location that could also be T. juncifolia - or hybrids #orchids
- Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. I only made it down for a brief visit at the start of November this year so a lot of plants were not out in full flower when I was there. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField
- Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW. After what looked like a goodish start to the flowering season only one plant on the road in actually made it to full-flowering - the very dry spring affected most other plants around the property. #orchids #cymbidium
- Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong NP, VIC. Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) are common nearby but in open grassland some smaller-flowering forms are maybe closer to the very similar Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid) #orchids
- Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) out in the light rain at Corunna, NSW. Dipodium are the most visible summer orchids around Corunna with 3 x species growing locally. This patch of D. roseum next to the track behind the house are usually the the first ones out most years #Orchids #OzPlants
- Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Flowers only open briefly on warm humid mornings and then close before midday. Usually starts to flower at this location just as the other local sun orchids have finished - only saw 1 plant this year #orchids
- Roadside onion orchids (Microtis sp.) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Maybe M. parviflora although some recent reclassifications split this widespread species into 3 x species in VIC. Tip of little finger here for scale - individual flowers are very small! #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Have seen one or two pink forms at this location in past years but haven't seen them every spring. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField
- Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. Most of the trigger plants out here were this very attractive pale-flowering form with tall flower spikes. #Orchids #Stylidium #InTheField
- Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea (which both grow nearby). Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see plants flowering at several locations this spring #orchids
- Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. These two small sun orchids combine to form some interesting hybrids at this location but I didn't see any out this year on my quick visit #orchids
- Small pink Caladenia orchid variations near the Mongarlowe River, Monga, NSW. Some interesting variations in flower colour and size in roadside plants on the edge of tall forest. Most plants here are prob closer to C. carnea although C. fuscata is more common to the north around Mongarlowe #orchids
- Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) variations growing side by side in open grassland near the Genoa River, VIC. Most spotted suns here have smaller flowers (+ fewer flowers / plant on shorter stems) than more typical coastal forms. Flower colour + shape is also very variable #orchids #ozplants
- Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. The flowers are fairly small at this location but they generally feature some of the bushiest beards of the local Calochilus. Only saw the one plant out this year in a dry spring #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField
- Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Only found the two plants out here this year which may have been a result of a dry spring - or me only having a quick look a week or so earlier than I usually drop by ;) #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Pink sun orchids (Thelymitra carnea) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Quite a common species around Genoa in both heathland and open grassland - often combining with other blue-flowering sun orchids growing nearby to form interesting hybrids. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Most spotted suns at this location have fewer smaller flowers than these more robust plants (which are a bit closer to the typical coastal forms growing around Mallacoota to the east). #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField
- Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) and some of the smaller locals dining out on the local vegetation in open grassland near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. #inthefield #ozplants #spring #beetles
- Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. As with other nearby populations of this diminutive sun orchid flower colour can vary a bit between light blue and slightly pink. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Early morning purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. A fairly widespread species in VIC and NSW but generally uncommon and only found in disjunct populations (regarded as vulnerable in VIC due to habitat depletion). #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Sun orchid (Thelymitra) near Genoa, VIC - probably a hybrid between T. ixioides x T.pauciflora (both flowering nearby). Similar hybrids are known as Thelymitra × truncata in SA, VIC, NSW, TAS but this name has also been applied to a wide range of hybrids involving 5 different species #orchids
- Pink forms of Caladenia alata (fairy fingers) north of Mallacoota, VIC. All of the plants in this small patch have the same pink flowers -while all of the plants in more open heathland nearby are the more typical white-flowering forms of this delicate orchid. These pink forms may be hybrids #orchids
- Marsh sun orchids (Thelymitra longiloba) on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. This is the first time I've seen this species - although I have seen a single plant of the similar Thelymitra improcera just nearby in the past. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Tailed leek orchids (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) near Genoa, VIC. Flower colour is quite variable in this rare species with a mix of yellow, brown, red + purple forms often growing together. Only saw a couple of plants out on my last visit but may have been a week or so too early this year #orchids
- Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) in open grassland on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. Most early flowering plants here have only one or two flowers with colour varying slightly between blue and slightly pink #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
- Small pink Caladenia orchids near Monga, NSW. The pinker forms here look a lot like C. hillmani - although this is generally a coastal sp. This plant was slightly unusual with two buds on the flowering stem (most plants here were single flowers) plus one of the buds had split into 2 flowers #orchids
- Kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos hybrid) and Grevillea plurijuga currently flying the flag for WA flora in the Corunna, NSW garden. Grafted G. plurijugas are now more widely available in SE NSW nurseries (as G 'Purple Haze') and do pretty well in local conditions. #inthegarden #ozplants #grevilleas
- Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near Half Moon, NSW. As with populations of this variable sp. nearby at Mongarlowe there was a nice mix of spotted and not so spotted flowers out here on roadside verges. Didn't see any other colour variations here either - just shades of blue #orchids
- Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) at Corunna, NSW. Wasn't sure there would be a lot of flowers out this year with very little rain at home recently - but 2 of the 3 plants on the road in are looking great (despite being munched a little by some of the smaller locals!) #orchids
