Ocean deep and Skies of laughing blue, but Lowlands Lechenaultia are a paler hue….

Day 27 Lechenaultia expansa, a plant a day Lowlands Reserve 20 November 2020

Bright blue sky and deeper ocean blue at Lowlands Beach and pale blue Lechenaultia expansa from Lowlands Coastal Reserve, 19 November 2020

Who has the best shades of blue, Lowlands or Dwellingup?

The Lechenaultia biloba I saw when walking in Dwellingup last month were such an intense blue, reminding me of Lowlands sunny sky and sea, that I was inspired to buy some vivid blue Lechenaultia biloba tube stocks for my garden. However, the Lechenaultia biloba are struggling!

Shop bought native Lechenaultia biloba struggling in my garden and my hanging basket, Lobelia in background puts on a show

You can see from the distribution maps below that Lechenaultia biloba doesn’t naturally occur in Albany whereas Lechenaultia expansa does. Might explain my struggling bilobas!

I’ve noticed the flowers on their heathery stalks frequently in Lowlands Coastal Reserve, and mentally filed them as good enough* or close to or from Goodeniaceae family, and in my head, naming them babydoll PJs after their pastel blue frilly appearance. I suppose because they were to me pale baby blue, sometimes almost white and weren’t the brightest, intense, vivid blue of Lechenaultia biloba, I didn’t think to look up the Lechenaultia genus — thank you to Janet Atkins for confirming the genus. *The Goodeniaceae family is named after an18th century botanist and bishop of Carlisle, Samuel Goodenough.

Here are my photos from 10 November 2020, when i was thinking I really must get round to ID ing these — hence the scale

I chose Lechenaultia expansa as my plant of the day, because they were sporting some of my favourite critters in the morning sunshine — Castiarina trifasciata(jewel beetles) and the dainty flower spiders (Australomisidia species)

Castiarina trifasciata (jewel beetles) and the dainty flower spiders (Australomisidia species), 18 November 2020, Lowlands Coastal Reserve

Some desert species of Lechenaultia were used by the Aboriginal people to make a glue strong enough to bind an axe head to its handle (pounded up stalks combined with charcoal and animal scats)

To get back to the question, who has the best shades of blue? I’m going for Lowlands, as not only do we have pale blue Lechenaultia reminding me of vintage frilly lacy pastel blue baby-doll PJs (remember these?), we also have beautiful skies of laughing blue and our deep blue ocean of joy!

@rachelmoonclothing for vintage lace surrounded by two photos of Lowlands Lechenaultia expansa, Lowlands Coastal Reserve, 18 November 2020

Sunny morning at Lowlands Beach, Deep blue ocean 19 November 2020

Interesting article here on the political history of the babydoll dress https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/7954/the-political-history-of-the-babydoll-dress

Babydoll PJs from the 1960s remind me of Lowlands Lechenaultia

White one too, and blue frillies still being loved up by Castiarina beetles, 29 November 2020

Writing this daily blog featuring a plant a day and walking daily is my fundraising effort for Bush Heritage #groundworkchallenge . To join my team or donate go to https://www.groundworkchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sheilamurray/2020?fbclid=IwAR2HbNn0YsCCc3tiSK-_lbF5xLsssaD8wjGHaUwVYrRqYxM-kdJkijoj2N0

Lowlands Coastal Reserve is on Menang Boodja — country. I celebrate the strength, resilience and capacity of the Menang Noongar people who are the traditional owners of the land.

Lowlands Coastal Reserve is managed by the local community and the City of Albany. Bush Heritage Australia manage many other wonderful reserves.

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