Following on from our Senior Celebrations wildflower walks, two of our participants, Denis and Lyn Haynes, were inspired to explore some of our other local reserves and were pointed towards Swainsona Conservation Reserve off Felltimber Creek Rd., Wodonga. This reserve is probably not as visited as Castle Creek but is a bit of a hidden gem with just as much diversity of wildflowers.

At the moment you will find a mass of bulbine lilies together with pink lady fingers, waxlip orchids, chocolate lilies, bluebells, and early nancys. Quite a few sun orchids are in bud as well and will be out on bright, sunny days in the coming week or so. Also in bud are masses of blue pincushions and the smooth darling pea is beginning to form buds so stay tuned for its spectacular orange pea flowers next month!

What’s exciting though is that Denis and Lyn managed to find an orchid that has no records on iNaturalist not only for the Swainsona reserve, but in the whole of Wodonga and Albury! A lone musky caps orchid (Caladenia moschata) was spotted and we were keen to investigate!

A few of these orchids have been recorded in Chiltern-Mt. Pilot National Park and towards Beechworth and Yackandandah but it’s always a good thing to add to the observations of what we have locally so that it can be protected and kept for future generations.

Well done Denis and Lyn and thanks for sharing your find!