Mountain Biking has opened up a new world for us as a family. No more running bikes or footpaths, its all cross country adventure now!! The Snowy Mountains offers so much trail, from beginner to advanced, and we love nothing more than to ride as a family whenever we can!
The only problem is that mum can’t keep her eyes on the trail, they keep sliding sideways and ogling the lovely flowers that pop up each time we ride!! Today was no different. We started our ride from Thredbo Diggings and headed over the hill toward Lake Crackenback Resort. I was firmly resolved to avoid looking at flowers, but alas, Stu my darling husband couldn’t help but point out an old favourite the Grass Trigger plant (Stylidium graminifolium) and well, then we discovered the Koscuiszko rose (Pimelia ligustrina subs. ciliata) in bloom nearby. I had to stop to admire the Derwents (Derwent derwentiana) in full show and the aroma of the Alpine grevillea (Grevillea australis) was so sweet, and the Ivy Goodenias (Goodenia hederacea subsp. alpestris) growing entangled with with the Trailing Pratia (Pratia pedunculata) were so lovely….and well you get the picture….. Soon our ride degenerated into mum crashing at every flower because i couldn’t NOT LOOK. The boys soon left me in the dust .
All alone my focus turned to the tiniest blooms bursting into song as i cruised the trail heading along the Thredbo river. Some delightful miniatures I found along the way were; Buttercups, (Ranunculus Sp), Ivy-Leaved Violet, (Viola hederacea), Slender Speedwell (Veronica gracilis), Bluebells (Whalenbergia sp.) and the first of the gorgeous Billy Buttons (craspedia sp). I also spied the lovely lollypop bloom of the Alpine Rice Flower (Pimelea alpina) and was lucky to find a Mauve Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum suttonii).
Encouraging me on the tricky up hills were my two favourite Daisy Bushes, the Moth Daisy Bush (Olearia erubescens) and The Large-Leaf Daisy Bush (Olearia megalophylla). Not to be outshone The Cascade everlasting (Ozothamnus secundiflorus) was in full glory and its somewhat more subtle relative,Ozothamnus thysoides. I am sure i missed lots of blooms today but these are the most obvious and i didn’t even leave the Trail.
As i splashed my face with the cool river water i felt lucky to be alive on this awesome planet.
So with the wind in your face and the flies on my back i wish you all Happy Wanderings.
Marion.
alpinebloom.me 