Go East young (?) man
Following Denis Wilson's post and a subsequent email, about the orchidaceous delights of Mongarlowe which lies to the East of Carwoola, Frances, myself and the small dog took ourselves off there to see what we could find. The possible query is whether I still qualify as young (Frances is younger than me, and if anyone questions the small dog's youth, just watch her go after a wabbit)? I have decided that relativity is the go: see a helpful entry in Wikipedia to confirm that I am a spring chicken.
For those coming from Braidwood it is possibly useful to know that Wilson Rd, which runs from the main street past the dunnies becomes signed as Little River Road. Google Maps and Google Earth seem to call this Budawang Rd, which caused a little confusion in my mind. However if one ploughs straight ahead along Wilson Rd all works out OK. When you get to Mongarlowe take a right turn and keep an eye out for the fire shed, going behind it to get to the cemetery. Possibly check out the interesting decor of the houses en route.
We then went back to the cemetery - it was more or less on the way home -to check for Speculanthas (Tiny Greenhoods) but dipped on them. HOWEVER: we did find a different Corunastylis just a bit further upslope from the C. oligantha!
I will make a bold call, from the image and text in the Great Big Book for Boys and Girls Who Like Australian Orchids (aka Jones D. L. "Complete Guide to the Native Orchids of Australia") that this is C. ostrina the Purple Midge Orchid.
We also found a few other plants in flower. herewith some images.
It wouldn't be fair to leave the cemetery without "a tip of the lid" to the local community who seem to have done a fair job on trying to recognise the early settlers of the area. Unfortunately most of the plaques about the Hogan family have been reasonably weathered so I didn't photograph them. Here is a snap of the memorial to a Galway (surprisingly from Waterford).
We left down the Northangera Road towards the Kings Highway. A good fun road. although being mindful of my passengers comfort I didn't enjoy myself too much. We couldn't work out where Monga National Park joined the road (if in fact it does) but crossed the Mongarlowe River which had a good flow in it.
In fact what hits the road, just South of the River Crossing is a State Conservation Area. An expedition thereto is covered in a later post.
For those coming from Braidwood it is possibly useful to know that Wilson Rd, which runs from the main street past the dunnies becomes signed as Little River Road. Google Maps and Google Earth seem to call this Budawang Rd, which caused a little confusion in my mind. However if one ploughs straight ahead along Wilson Rd all works out OK. When you get to Mongarlowe take a right turn and keep an eye out for the fire shed, going behind it to get to the cemetery. Possibly check out the interesting decor of the houses en route.
We particularly liked the bird feeder in the background!
On getting to the cemetery we were greeted by a local resident who appeared to be either communing with the departed or escorting her goat (Tillie by name) around the premises.
We avoided a confrontation between the small dog and Tillie! Given that a goat - albeit a placid specimen - was in the vicinity we were amazed to find any vegetation left in the area.
Anyhow, we followed Denis's Google earth image and found some Corunastylis oligantha, the Mongarlowe Midge Orchid, very promptly. Photos were taken!
Quite a lot of the plants seemed to have 'gone over' to use the orchid persons euphemism of choice for "having been fertilised and passed the torch to the next generation". 'Gone over' certainly has the benefit of brevity!
The Eriochilus cuculata were in profusion: I cannot understand how Tillie had been so slack on the job. The range of tones in the Parsons Bands was quite impressive (this image is a combination: I couldn't find two with this level of contrast side by each in the cemetery). Note yet again how 'un-hairy' the sepals are.
We then took ourselves off to the 50kph sign on Charley's Forest Rd to search for other goodies. Lots of E. cuculatus and eventually some more Corunastylis oligantha (I think - see image below).
We also found a few other plants in flower. herewith some images.
Comments
Sounds like a good day out.
Glad you found the Mongarlowe Midges.
You picked up the correct name for the dark Corunastylis too. We didn't see that one there, but found it out on the Charley's Forest Rd.
If you go back later, with the Field Nats people, (or whoever) the Speculanthas will be more visible. They are just starting.
.
Well done, and a good fun posting too.
There is a plaque recounting the whole history of the Hogan Clan, by the way, up the top right. The founder of the clan came to Sutton Forest to work for a Mr Atkinson. As it happens, his daughter Louisa Atkinson became a famous amateur botanist, with many plants named after her.
Just a little snippet of info.
Denis
That plaque was one of those too weathered to photograph. I didn't feel I should try to clean it up since I didn't know what the locals might think of that. I certainly wouldn't want Tillie's owner to take umbrage with me: she might take other parts of me as well!
What is annoying is that I am sure I heard someone on the radio talking about being sent to Moreton Bay and then coming to Port Macquarie. But I can't remember who or when. Perhaps my jokes about age were a little too smart?
Martin
Denis