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Tuesday, 19 October 2010 10:22 |
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Bloomin’ South Australian Wildflowers
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| Recent rains in South Australia (www.southaustralia.com) have seen unusually large numbers of wildflowers blooming throughout the State’s Flinders Ranges and Outback region in particular with the result that: |
• This is the best time to see wildflowers in South Australia in two decades
• The wildflowers cover vast expanses, sometimes the size of six football fields
• Desert pea, orchids, lilies, daisies and acacia cover the usually arid landscapes
• The best views are along the Heysen, Mawson and Kidman Trails
• Many edible flowers are also in bloom- an unusual and ‘on trend’ salad ingredient
 The Flinders Ranges and the South Australian Outback is looking the greenest it has for 15 years with wonderful hues of wildflowers that are showcasing what a bumper year seasonally the region has had producing flora of all kinds in huge areas.
The BBC will also be putting the Flinders Ranges & Outback region into the spotlight this month as they air Sir David Attenborough’s newest natural history documentary “First Life”, a segment of which was filmed on location in the region.
Michael Anlezark, manager and curator of The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden in South Australia, said that now is one of the best times in around two decades to see wildflowers in South Australia making this springtime one of the most magical times to explore the region.
Mr Anlezark is also the state president of the Australian Plants Society and he points out that South Australia is coming out of the wettest winter for at least 10 years that has led to the burst of wild flowers appearing now and over the next three months. The area has previously been subject to droughts and limited flower displays making this year’s spectacle even more impressive.
Some of the highlights for visitors to the region this spring include:
 • Throughout the Flinders Ranges and the Outback, the Sturts desert pea can be seen in areas the size of six football pitches
• Splashes of colour can be seen throughout conservation parks and reserves from native orchids and lilies to unusual pink, blue and yellow daisies
• The Heysen, Mawson and Kidman Trails all traverse sections of bushland where visitors can witness the carpet of flowers by walking, cycling or on horseback
• Salt bushes are fruiting everywhere looking a bit like ‘red or green tortellini’
• Australia’s national emblem, the acacia pychantha, is flowering beautifully. Some of them are said to be up to six hundred years old
• Edible varieties include the salt bush with their tiny flowers that look like mini clusters of grapes, yakkas that have a flower that is very sweet and full of nectar and the strawberry tasting fruit of the native ‘pig face’
• The dodonaea, also known as ‘the brilliant hop’, is now in flower and was used as a substitute for hops to make beer by the early European settlers
• Dampiera rosmarinifolia, translated as ‘rosemary like foliage’, flowers with a beautiful purple flower
• Next month flowers such as pycnosorus globosus, commonly known as ‘drumsticks’ and the pretty pinky, purple flower called disphyma crassifolium also known as ‘pig faces’ will start flowering
• The wild flowers are attracting many birds, bees and butterflies – making the scenery buzz with activity
James McGregor from Greening Australia concludes: “Many plants do not even get noticed until they are in flower and for people to get a full appreciation of the diversity of South Australia’s indigenous flora they need to see the plants in flower and get an understanding of just how diverse these areas are and why it is so important to protect what we have left. Spring is special because so many plants are in flower at this time of the year. It’s a fantastic time to visit the Flinders Ranges & Outback.”
AUDLEY TRAVEL (Tel 01993 838 810 www.audleytravel.com) can arrange customised itineraries to the Flinders Ranges & Outback. A sample 10-night itinerary costs from £1,785 and and includes stays in Adelaide and the majestic Flinders Ranges, international flights and car hire.
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| -ENDS- |
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