Back to Ikara Ridge 21 – 22 February 2021

After the amazing experience a few days before, I thought about returning and staying longer to try and get some better photos of the pink Flannel Flowers currently in bloom along the ridge.

So I decided that an overnight trip would be worthwhile. I caught a train to Mt Victoria and then walked out the start of the ridge. This took about an hour, and except for the first part of the walk (back along the Highway to the railway crossing, then over the footbridge and continuing a little further before crossing over to the fire road) was mostly pleasant. I was on the lookout for orchids as I walked – and I eventually found a small cluster of the old Midge Orchids –

Then, near the turn off for the track out to Ikara Head, I was  bit surprised by all the cars that were parked there. Some of them were those of people I knew. I saw Bob and his wife Jess walking back up. Bob had been so impressed by the flower display that he had shown them to Jess. As I continued down the track I met Suzanne, who I know from NPA walks, and then some other NPA walkers further down, and also Gemma, from the Fungal Studies Group.

I continued on through the flowers and found shady spot to have a late lunch. I then wandered around with my camera.

The trouble with taking photos of flowers during the middle of the day is that the light is too direct and the flowers can appear bit washed out. I was hoping for some softer lighting just before and after sunset, and also around sunrise the next morning. The other time to get good flower photos is during stormy lighting. That was what we had last Thursday on the visit with Bob.

After lunch and a short photo walk. I stowed my gear in a nearby cave, and then went down to the Girraween Cave to collect some water. Back at the top, I then walked out to Ikara Head.

On the way out, I noticed a lot of pink Flannel Flowers had spring up. I had not seen these on Thursday. Perhaps I had missed them, or perhaps they were all new. They seemed to also have a lot of fresh buds – so there may be a good display further out in the next few weeks?

Back at the main flower area, I again wandered around taking more photos.

It was now closer to sunset, and the light certainly was a lot softer.

I had set up my tarp on the track – at a spot close to, but not on, flowers.

During the night, there was a big thunderstorm around 9 pm. It rained heavily, but for only about twenty minutes. Then it was peaceful.

I was up the next morning at sunrise – about 6:30 am. No sunlight had hit the flowers and the light was very gentle – like the previous evening, after sunset.

It was after 7 am that the sun hit the flowers.

After my shooting, I headed back to camp for breakfast.

I packed up and left around 8 am. As I was leaving, I could see the first of two parties walking down to see the flowers.

On my walk back along the fire road to Mt Victoria, I saw a lot more orchids. Many of them were old ones. Midge and Leek Orchids. The ones are fresher  –

Horned Orchid

Parsons Band Orchid

This stunning display of pink Fallen Flowers should remain for a few more weeks at least. Perhaps there will still be flowers in April? Some others have described the pink Flannel Flower display as a “Once in a Lifetime Experience”.  Well, I would disagree with that. I have been fortunate enough to see amazing displays of them at Kanangra Walls back in March 2010, and then on Narrow Neck in February and March 2014, and in a lot of places (February – March 2015) after the extensive bushfire on the Newnes Plateau late in 2013. When conditions are right these flowers seem to appear in caespitose profusion. It is these conditions that are rare – a bushfire and then good rain. The bushfires of the previous summer were so extensive, burning out such a large part of the Blue Mountains and well beyond, that it is likely, that anyplace that contains dormant pink Flannel Flower seeds will now have a good display of flowers.