Harrisdale Swamp

Harrisdale Swamp is a Bush Forever nature reserve, south of Perth, within the City of Armadale. The reserve is relatively large and is part of Jandakot Regional Park. It is rich in flora and fauna, which is the main reason for visiting this place. Anyone with a keen interest in wildlife, wildflower photography (more on this below) will find great delight at this reserve.

It has some interesting history, dating back to World War II, when the area was used for growing potatoes to feed soldiers. More on this here. Fortunately, it was declared a reserve in 1991 due to its high conservation values.

There are walking trails within the reserve. Some of them are impassable in winter during heavy rains. There are no facilities within the reserve.

Birdlife is abundant there. When the wildflower season is over, I will be paying more attention to the various birds within the reserve. I already spotted numerous Blue wrens and heard Golden whistlers but I need to go back and hopefully take pictures of them.

Orchids at Harrisdale Swamp (blooming in August)

I was visiting Harrisdale Swamp weekly this year. After sufficient rain I was delighted to discover and photograph 11 types of orchids growing there. There are more types of orchids growing there, but some of them were not flowering, like Red Beaks. Many native wildflowers, other than orchids grow there too.

Pterostylis crispula Slender snail orchid (left above), Pterostylis sanguinea Dark banded greenhood (above middle), Diuris corymbosa Common donkey orchid (above right).

Leporella fimbriata Hare orchid (above left), Pterostylis recurva Jug orchid (above middle), Cyrtostylis huegelii Midge orchid (above right).

Prasophyllum parvifolium Autumn leek orchid (above left), Pterostylis vittata Banded greenhood orchid (above middle), Pterostylis ectypha Thick sepaled Snail Orchid (above right).

Caladenia flava Cowslip orchid (above left), Pheladenia deformis Blue Fairy orchid (above right).

Various wildflowers

Philotheca spicata Pepper and Salt (above left), Bossiaea eriocarpa (above middle), Brachyloma preissii (above right).

Conostylis prolifera (above left), Drosera pallida (above middle), Running Postman Kennedia prostrata (above right).

Fungi

In winter, after a good rain, you can see plenty of fungi in the bush.

Wireless Hill Park

Jug Orchid in Wireless Hill Park

If you are looking for a place to see wildflowers around Perth, Wireless Hill Park in Ardross is one such place. It is a bushland that has been reserved for the communication station (operated between 1912 and 1968), thus not open for housing development and this is what made the bushland thrive. The Park has a dedicated wildflower walk with informative signs (thanks to the Friends of Wireless Hill volunteers for looking after the park and the plants).  park also has a picnic area, a nature-based playground and Telecommunications Museum. The kids enjoyed their play, while I admired wildflowers. Perfect afternoon!

There are a lot of kangaroo and cat’s paw flowers in the park.

A variety of different orchids is another highlight of Wireless Hill Park. Wild orchids are delicate, quite small and easy to miss. But when you spot one, kneel down and take time to look, you will see intricate beauty and uniqueness of nature’s creation.

Pansy Donkey orchids are quite common while Jug Orchids (above) are more difficult to find.

Caladenia arenicola – Carousel Spider (above left). Lyperanthus serratus rattle beak orchid (above centre). Pink Fairy Orchid Caladenia latifolia (above right).