Small sun orchids (Thelymitra sp.) at Corunna, NSW (tip of my little finger included here for scale). Quite a bit of variation at this location with a mix of blue and pink flowers and maybe both T. pauciflora and T. peniculata represented. #orchids #ozplants #inthefield

Diuris punctata (purple donkey orchid) starting to flower, East Gippsland, VIC. Was a bit early this year for the really spectacular tall plants with 4-5 flowers but still found some nice early forms up and out. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Marsh sun orchid (Thelymitra longiloba) in Croajingolong NP, E. Gippsland, VIC. This plant has slightly wider petals/sepals than more typical 'star-like' flowering forms. Only found the one still out at this location (tho it can be easy to miss this sp. amongst a range of similar blue sun #orchids!)

Short-lip Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum brevilabre) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Like all other leek orchids the flowers are 'up-side down' with the labellum at the top of the flower rather than pointing down at the bottom. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Some nice variations in the late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides/Thelymitra juncifolia) near Genoa, E. Gippsland, VIC. These later flowering forms generally have fewer/smaller flowers on shorter flowering stems with a lot of variation in spot size + number #orchids #inthefield

Diuris sulphurea (tiger or hornet orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. These were the only yellow Diuris I saw on my last far East Gippsland day-trip - was a bit late for the early species and the tigers were a bit scarce due to the drier conditions. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea (both grow nearby). First time I've seen this orchid out at this location - with three plants in flower #orchids

Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. Regarded as endangered in VIC (rare in NSW) and often only seen after fires. But good early numbers out this spring despite the drier conditions. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Thelymitra pauciflora (slender sun orchid) variations near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC - pink and blue forms flowering next to each other. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants #spring #wildflowers

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) in Croajingolong NP, VIC. Only one plant out at this location (just starting to flower). This widespread sp. is common across East Gippsland but I've only ever seen a couple of scattered plants here (growing near red beard orchids in heathland) #orchids

Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa Rr, East Gippsland, VIC. Only a handful of plants still in flower on this visit as drier conditions may have slightly curtailed the flowering season. Most plants here have fewer/smaller flowers than this more typical form. #orchids #inthefield

Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) starting to flower, East Gippsland, VIC. Mostly only single flowers out on this visit but plenty of buds still to open. A fairly widespread sp. in VIC/NSW but regarded as vulnerable in VIC due to habitat depletion. #orchids #inthefield #biodiversity

Thelymitra longiloba (marsh sun orchid) in open heathland near Genoa, VIC. Was a bit late this year to see a lot of flowering at this location with only one still out (all other plants nearby had already finished). Flowers are v. small - tip of my little finger included here for scale! #orchids

Prasophyllum brevilabre (Short-lip Leek-orchid) near Mallacoota, VIC. In many places this species is only seen after fires but at this location the odd plant appears from time to time even in non-fire affected seasons. #orchids #inthefield #OzPLants

First flowers are out on the patch of sun orchids (Thelymitra sp. - T. pauciflora/T. peniculata) behind my house at Corunna, NSW. This pop. suffered a little from extra mowing + foot traffic this yr before the installation of a new roof on the house - but there's still a good no. out now #orchids

Grevillea scortechinii (black grevillea) in the garden is coming into bloom after a hard prune over winter. This grafted plant is over 20 yrs old now. One of a handful of grevillea species with interesting 'black' flowers but unfortunately rarely seen in nurseries #grevilleas #ozplants #inthegarden

Grevillea buxifolia (grey spider flower) flowering in the garden near Corunna, NSW. Another attractive sandstone species which is unfortunately not common in cultivation down my way (may be easier to find closer to Sydney or in Victorian native plant nurseries). #grevilleas #gardening #ozplants

Isopogon anemonifolius in coastal heathland near Vincentia NSW. Of the 7 x NSW isopogon sp. this is the only one I ever see in nurseries down my way - but I don't see it often any more. All of the NSW sp. offer potential as garden plants with interesting foliage, buds, flowers + cones #proteaceae

Caladenia hillmanii (purple-heart fingers) near Hyams Beach, NSW. This is a good location to see this early spring-flowering orchid with some nice variations out from as early as late August. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Botany #Spring #InTheField #Caladenia #BloomScrolling #WildFlowers

Coastal #Proteaceae at South Pacific Heathland Reserve, Ulladulla NSW. (Clockwise from T-L) Lambertia, Conospermum, Grevillea and Isopogon in flower on a short stroll. There's also Banksia, Petrophile, Persoonia and Telopea (NSW Waratah) nearby - many at the southern limit of their pops. #ozplants

Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) near Hyam's Beach, NSW - another coastal location where most of the flowers have no spots. Flowering had already pretty much finished here in mid-September with only a handful of plants still out. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants #biodiversity

Grevillea patulifolia in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW. The similar G. linearifolia also grows at this location with some plants possible intergrades. Prob the best G. patulifolia I've seen in terms of horticultural potential (also the form with the palest flowers). #grevilleas #inthefield

Grevillea macleayana flowering in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW. These coastal plants with mostly entire, elliptic leaves + semi-prostrate habit when young offer a lot as garden plants - but I'm not sure when I last saw one available in a nursery or native plant sale. #grevilleas #ozplants

Caladenia hillmanii (purple-heart fingers) in open forest at Jervis Bay, NSW. Some variation in flower size, shape and colour at this location with some plants not having the distinctive maroon labellum side-lobes this species is known for. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField #Spring

The first Epimediums are starting to flower in the (recently expanded) woodland perennial section of our garden at Tilba Tilba. This is not a garden I have much to do with at all - and I don't really know for sure what varieties they might be - but I still really enjoy them every year! #perennials

Flannel flowers (Actinotus helianthi) in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW (generally regarded as the southern limit of this distinctive species). Very popular with a range of the smaller local pollinators on this sunny but cool spring morning! #Wildflowers #OzPlants #InTheField #Biodiversity

Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) in coastal heathland, Jervis Bay NP, NSW. Most plants at this location have no spots at all which is not uncommon with coastal populations. This sp. is less shy to flower than most sun orchids - these were still open on a cool, cloudy afternoon. #orchids

First flying ducks (Caleana major - large duck orchid) of the spring near Jervis Bay, NSW. Out pretty early here compared to the ducks I see most seasons further south in East Gippsland - often as late as mid-November. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants #biodiversity #wildflowers

Another winter-flowering grevillea doing well this year in the garden after a hard prune last year is the G. banksii prostrate form. This grows to about 30cm tall x 2m + wide creating a striking groundcover or cascading feature (mine spreads out over the edge of a rock wall). #grevilleas #gardening

Grevillea 'Dorothy Gordon' is already flowering again in the garden after a hard prune in winter. This is a great hybrid for using as either a feature plant or a dense screen. Not uncommon in nurseries at times but not sure why growers don't have larger no.s available right across the yr #grevilleas