Native Orchids

If you want to truly experience the hidden marvels of the South Australian bush, you need to go off-road. Each weekend these super sleuths head off in search of native orchids and spring is their busiest season. Some enthusiasts come armed with cameras while the really committed demand an even closer view. "That's not for bird watching." "Nup." "So how do you use those for orchids." "You reverse them. Upside down and right in close on the orchid and it's amazing the detail you can see." Like the labellum, the centre piece on this King Spider Orchid. "You see it's talking to you it's imitating a wasp. The male wasp is supposed to be attracted by that and sometimes a perfume is given out as well." It's all part of nature's way of pollinating another native orchid. And out here in Hardy's Scrub in the Onkaparinga River National Park 30 kilometres south of Adelaide nature's got plenty of work to do. All around is the beautiful Waxlip Orchid and nearby the Donkey Orchid so named because of its large earlike petals. The Sun Orchid is worth keeping an eye out for, it only flowers in 27 degree heat but when it does the flush of this colour is magnificent. "There are about two hundred native orchid species here in South Australia and the good news is that number is increasing each year thanks to these orchid detectives. They're out scouring the bush of South Australia to find that elusive new species."

There's at least one native orchid in flower every month of the year. "And I bet it's pretty exciting when you find a new variety?" "Very exciting. Or even just an extension of range like we did last weekend, that was really good." And if Sherlock Holmes were alive today he'd probably be out with these guys for an elementary lesson in orchid rambling. There next trip is to Spring Gully Conservation park near Clare on Saturday. Native Orchid rambles continue right through to Christmas. If you want to tag along call Cathy Houston on (08) 8356 7356 out of office hours. Meanwhile the Spring Orchid Festival is being staged at Carrick Hill next weekend from 10am. Admission for adults is $10.

For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au