Friday 20th September 2024

Friday 20^th September

SHE SAID:

Evelyn & I headed for Island Point NR to do the ADORP survey/count for the Island Point Spider, which is a rare orchid. Evelyn has just signed up to do these as her annual ADORP Orchid. So, I was showing her how to do it, not that it is hard! We found 77 plants, which included pure spiders, hybrids, pollinated or finished ones, & leaves. I was surprised at how many we found. The count hasn’t been done for 3 years, when they found 86 plants, I think which was double the previous few counts.

We went searching in several new areas down the highway after the counting, finding quite a few orchids. Evelyn managed to kneel or kick a big ant's nest & had them come for her. These buggers are huge, 2in long with big pincers. I was slapping them off her madly, as was she. I think she got at least 3 bites, not good!

It was after 5pm by the time we got back to the house. I was pretty knackered.

I did manage to finish the lamb roast dinner that Geoff had prepped for me. It’s been ages since we had a roast.

Purple Enamels are starting now

A mutant Pink Fairy & Cowslip

Hybrid & pure Island Point Spiders

Carousel, Swamp & Grand Spiders 

Hybrid Cowslip x Pink Fairy
with parents

Mixed bunch of Spider Orchids

HE SAID:

With roast lamb on the menu I was very happy to do some prep while Varena was out. And it was, as usual, a very tasty meal.

There were other things to do as well. One job I had been putting off was soldering a join in the cables from one of the van solar panels. This involved leaning half onto the van's roof while standing on a ladder. Not fun. But, I got it done, so hopefully it will be fine for a long time. There was also weed spraying and things around the house. Not a busy day, but not dull either.