After getting back from Tasmania, it was nice to get out this weekend for a couple of bush walks in my local national parks. I went on two this weekend, to Lane Cove and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Parks, both of which are within fifteen minutes drive of home. I will share my favourite photos from each walk below.
I loved my walk in Lane Cove National Park because of the flowers I saw along my way. That’s what I love about winter here in Sydney-there are lots of native plants flowering at this time of year. The first species is Hakea sericea. They are related to the Grevillea and Banksia genera.
The Sydney golden wattle (Acacia longifolia) trees have been flowering very well this weekend. Their flowers stand out a mile due to their bright yellow flowers. I love seeing them at this time of year.
This is another Hakea species I believe, but it could be a Grevillea species as they can look very similar. When I get the chance, I will look and work it out. I have a long list of plants that I am slowly working my way through, this is now on that list!
This delightful plant is Grevillea species or the red spider flower. As with the wattle above, it stands out because of the flowers. This is also on my list of plants to learn more about! Too many nice plants, not enough time is very much a thing for me at the moment.
Moving onto Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. I love this place for different reasons. There are many of the same species her as in Lane Cove, but the landscape is more hilly, with views over the water and it is a lot bigger too. I saw this coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia) flowering away at the start of my walk. I love these pale yellow flowers.
This is one of my favourite views in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The combination of hills full of trees and water below is lovely. It is also so peaceful-up here you don’t feel like you are on the edge of Sydney at all.
This little guy is a honeyeater. I love seeing wildlife on my walks. I also saw a bush turkey and a wallaby (think kangaroo, but smaller, cuter and far less intimidating).
Don’t ask me what this curly stuff is, because I asked the same question and I don’t know! It is another plant for my list that needs researching. All I know is that it is a little odd, as with most plants and animals in Australia, and I like it, whatever it is. I’ll let you know when I find out!
This tree is another example of odd-if only the angle which it is happy to grow at. Love it.
When I get chance I love looking into the crown of trees. Today, the light was lovely, as was the blue sky.
The sun in the she-oak leaves was also really nice. I think the ends that are pink/orange in colour are the male flower parts.
I could quite easily spend all day in the bush, but I have other stuff to do, with good and bad.