It was a beautiful Sunday morning, the last day of August 2025, and we were blessed by the wildflowers. A very passionate Sarah Lawson guided us from Park Edge Road entrance into the Noosa National Park Headland section walk.
This section of the park is described as open or dry heath on dunes and beaches. It is the same ecosystem as that of Marcus High Dunes and has been declared endangered.
Amongst the immense variety of wildflowers we saw many Banksias, Allocasuarinas and Leptospermum.
We discovered that Silky Beard Heath (Leucopogon Pimeleoides) actually smells like honey. There was lots of Parrot Pea with the Mickey Mouse ears (Dillwynia Retorta) and many Rice flowers (Pimelea Linifolia) amongst so many others.
We also saw some delicate orchids and the beautiful Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid), which was very exciting for some of us who were seeing it for only a second time.
The common denominator in the group was the enthusiasm to see and learn as much as we could. A particular young person from the Maroochydore area, who had missed her local walks due to full quotas, was determined to make this one and was lapping it up like the rest of us.
Thanks to Bruce from NICA for contributing his time, knowledge and assistance on the day and a big thanks to Sarah for sharing her extensive knowledge. We all appreciated her patience and explanations of all things flowering or green.
We now await the joy of the Wildflower Walks next year.
Kay Southam
