It’s Native Orchid Hunting Season!
OK, stick with us, because we know what you’re thinking, this does not sound the awesomest. Or even fun. But we promise you it is. Sort of. Maybe. Well, we think it is and we’re gonna give you our best tips to find some.
So let’s do this:
1. Get some tips from someone who really knows what they’re talking about – and that’s not us.
Seriously, native orchids pop up in all sorts of places around SA, but not all the places, so if you can at least get someone to point you in the right direction it will be a good start. If you don’t know anyone who can point you, check out this Facebook group and look at where they’re taking their pics as many of them will give you a general location. Just don’t ask people the exact spot you’ll see them cause that’s cheating and takes the fun and frustration out of it. (Pro tip: It won’t hurt if you know what you are and aren’t looking for too! Some orchids don’t look like orchids, and some things that aren’t orchids, do look like orchids!)
2. USE YOUR WHOLE ARSE. AND GO BOTH WAYS.
You can’t half arse it when you’re looking for native orchids. Some of them can be hard to spot and you’re gonna need you’re whole arse. And both eyes. Wide open. Walk slow, keep your eyes peeled, (whatever that even means), and even walk the same section of trail in both directions. You’d be surprised how many different things you spot walking the same trail but going the other way.
3. Learn to recognise stems and bases and leaves.
OK, this one is super nerdy, but sometimes the leaves or bases are actually easier to spot than the orchids themselves. Little helmet orchids, for example, are teeny tiny and bloody tricky to spot, but the leaf at the base is much more noticeable. If you keep an eye out for stems that haven’t bloomed yet, you can also go back in a week or so and try see what they’ve bloomed into! (To make things even trickier, sun orchids only open when the sun is out so spotting them on a cloudy day is gonna be extra tricky!)
4. Timing is everything.
They don’t hang around for long. Some of these things come and go like a hurried lover. So seriously, you need to be on your game to spot them. You could literally walk a trail today and see sweet bugger all, and write a place off as being shit, then go back in a few days and it’s orchid-arama. So timing really is everything. Likewise, when you do spot some, they could be gone before you know it. A little bit of knowledge and a whole lot of luck can help in this department but mostly it’s just worth being aware that a few weeks or even days in either direction can make all the difference. (Loosely speaking prime time orchid season goes from around July to October. Check out this amazingly helpful chart to not only help you identify some of the main types of orchids you’ll see around the place, but also a bit of a guide as to when they’ll be out and about.)
5. Look for clues.
We might be making this one up, but sometimes there’s something else that gives you a clue you might be in orchid territory. For us, it’s sundews. A lot of the time when we see orchids there’s also sundews around. Not every place that has sundews has orchids, but almost all of the places we see orchids, we also see sundews. So maybe it’s a clue and this is a helpful tip or maybe it’s completely useless. But when you do see some orchids try and get a vibe for if there’s anything about where you’ve found them that will help you find more next time. (By the way, how good are sundews?!?!?)
6. Some orchids have favourite spots.
Sure, some orchids are like “hey, look at me” and will pop up right on the side of the trail, just begging to be admired. (We call these Influencer Orchids.) But others are shyer and like to hang out in places where you’re less likely to spot them – like at the base of a tree. Keep an eye out in those sorts of locations as well.
7. Be aware of your surroundings.
Maybe you’re not fussed about being bitten on the face by a snake, but we are. We’re always super careful before we go crawling around in the bush looking for, or at, orchids. Maybe it’s prickles or critters or just other stuff you don’t want to smash in your quest to see some orchids. So definitely keep your eyes open. Pro tip: keeping your eyes open will increase your chances of seeing orchids by at least 100%.
Leave them the fuck alone.
Don’t pick them or dig them up because you think they’ll look great in your garden at home. It’s not just a dick move, it’s illegal. So don’t do it. (This goes for all Native Plants by the way.)
Don’t forget to have fun.
Spotting native orchids is great, but don’t forget to notice all the other little things along the way. Even if you don’t find any orchids, there’s usually some great wildflowers to see in Spring. Or bugs, or butterflies or the way the dew sits on the leaves. Nature is fucking awesome so orchids or not, get out there and take it all in. We promise you’ll have an awesome time no matter what.
