Most of the orchids on this web page are from the Stirling Range National Park and were photographed during a Floral Secrets Orchid Tour taken on a Saturday morning in October. The Park is 400 south-east of Perth.

Within the 116,000ha of the Park, there are 1,500 plant species - including 123 species of orchids.

The Tour is provided by Stirling Range Retreat, and in our case was conducted by Ayleen Sands, whose knowledge, passion and charm made it an experience to be remembered and treasured.

Notes taken on the Tour, as well as its handouts allowed the identification of the orchids and much of the detail provided below.

Reference has also been made to the superb Western Australian Herbarium FloraBase and the Orchids of South-West Australia website.

Unless indicated, the photos were taken in the Stirling Range National Park.

The orchid at the top is the stunning Purple Enamel Orchid (Elythranthera brunonis). It is widespread and the flower is 30mm in diameter.

The Butterfly Orchid (Caladenia lobata) above shows the remarkable, if not bizarre shapes of orchids. Its crimson lip quivers in the breeze. It is a Spider Orchid and its "wingspan" would be 70mm.

[A new classification is proposed for the Caladenia genus that would see the Spider Orchids have their own genera - Arachnorchis.]

Sun Orchids are at times difficult to identify from each other - especially when hybrids are involved.

The Shy Sun Orchid (Thelymitra graminea) to the left was found on Wave Rock.

The Scented Sun Orchid (Thelymitra macrophylla) to the right was found in Albany.

The Blue Lady Orchid (Thelymitra crinita) to the right was found in Perth.

It can be distinguished from the Scented Sun Orchid by the purple tufts on its column - see the close-up to the right shows.