Day 125 - The Chase for the Wily Wreath Flower

We are reluctant to admit it but we have the wildflower bug. We arose from our slumbers today, ignored the overcast skies and the wind and hit the road for Mullewa, 100km east of Geraldton, to search for the Wreath Flower.  We were relaxed, confident and full of expectation, so much so we stopped off at the Eradu Nature Reserve, overlooking the Goodnough River and the old Tenindewa rail siding.  

090814 The Goodnough River at the Eradu Nature Park

090814 The old Tenindewa rail siding rebuilt and used by the locals
as a community hall

Now back to wildflowers.  These wildflowers rope you in and the whole time your eyes are darting from side to side searching out the most prolific site or the most ravishing colours, while at all time holding out expectations you will see a wreath flower.

We arrived at Mullewa with no sightings but still with great expectations so we went to see the experts at the tourist information centre, hoping they could help us.  Help us they did with maps highlighting places where others had reported sightings.  They also added we may be a bit early to see large numbers in flower.  How depressing.

The flowers grow in the gravel edges of the roads.  We saw gravel edges for the next four hours as we searched the back blocks for this wily flower. To do this we travelled over 120 km of dirt roads which crisscrossed the countryside between the fields of lupin, wheat and canola.  Mind you the roads were excellent and the fields of cereal crops were as picturesque as ever.  However we had eyes only for Wreath Flowers. 

At 2.45pm unrewarded and unimpressed with the instructions of the experts, we lumbered out on to a made road and, lo and behold one km down the road, we saw them - Wreath Flowers in the flesh.

There was a feeling of elation.  Our efforts had not been misplaced completely and our patience had been rewarded.  

We hope you enjoy the pictures of the wreath flowers as well as those of the others taken on the day.

090814 Lupin up close - looks a bit like a wildflower

090814 Wildflowers near Mullewa

090814 Wildflowers near Moss Rock at Mullewa

090814 Pink, yellow and white en mass in the back blocks

090814 A Wreath Flower

090814 Wreath Flower not in full blossom

090814 Wreath Flowers and a mate

090814 White Wreath Flower before petals change colour

090814 The Gnome relaxing - or is this more ominous