Monday, October 17, 2011

Death and Wildflowers

A very quick post tonight.

Yesterday as is our wont Deb and I got out and about.

We stayed relatively close to home, deciding to have a late breakfast and head for an abandoned gold-rush era cemetery.

After a light shower in the morning it turned into a beautiful spring day.

You can see from this piccie what a bright sunny afternoon it became.
Welcome to the Queenstown cemetery which was in use from 1860 until 1981.

Most of the 380 recorded graves were from the gold-rush and pioneer era.

Showing the standards of the time there are believed to be a significant number of unrecorded and unmarked graves of Chinese gold miners. Evidence of most graves including the recorded ones has vanished, destroyed by a bushfire in 1962.

My intention was to make a record of the graves and cemetery (I love cemetaries).

But I was quickly distracted. Because spring means wildflowers.

There were hundreds, many of which I have never seen before. Remember I have only lived in Victoria for a few years and Oz has an incredibly regionally diverse flora.

Just two of the beauties I captured were a Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra merranae)
And a close up. Isn’t it exquisite?

A white Hyacinth Orchid (I think) I’m not sure of the species, more research is in order.
Speaking of research I posted this piccie of a cute bird, but didn’t know what it was. It turns out s/he is a White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis).

Thanks for the reminder Amanda

Next: Killer Plants

11 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

I saw the title of the post (wildflowers) and I immediately began sneezing.

But I can't believe your wildflowers are orchids. Gorgeous. I paid a fortune for mine and haven't seen a single blossom in 2 years.

Linda G. said...

You live in the perfect spot for a nature-loving photographer. Thanks for sharing the lovely pics! :)

Old Kitty said...

What a lovely cemetary with a very sad history - all those unmarked graves! I love how nature is taking over, though!! The orchids are so delicate and sublime - beautiful!! Hello to the little bird! Take care
x

Carolyn V said...

I love the pictures! They are so beautiful.

Hart Johnson said...

I love old cemetaries too! Newer ones seem too raw, but old ones have such a great feel of history to them. And that purple orchid is exquisite!

Amanda said...

Oh I love old cemeteries too. Beautiful spring flowers! Thanks for checking on the bird. So cool!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Yes, that orchid is beautiful. Your springtime and summer pics brighten things up for those of us about to enter autumn and winter.

Kristen M. said...

One day I will live somewhere that orchids grow wild ...

Tahlia Newland said...

What an evocative place. It inspires all sorts of ideas for scenes in stories. I love australian wildflowers, thanks for the photos.

Susan Fields said...

I love that Spotted Sun Orchid - what a gorgeous color!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Beautiful pictures, Al! I accidentally clicked on the cemetery photo and it went full screen size on me....awesome shot!