The Wildflower Walk is an added bonus during the wildflower season which runs from August through until October. Whale World is situated on the Flinders Peninsula on the edge of Torndirrup National Park and has a very diverse range of local flora. A leisurely stroll through the walk at any time of the year is a rewarding experience with views overlooking the picturesque King George Sound, its islands, sea birds and, on occasions, whales.
Kwongan: This Aboriginal term is now widely used for the low heath-like vegetation common over large areas of the south-west where rainfall is 250-400 mm. It is usually on soils of low fertility, yet here is the richest development of the flora. Several families are especially dominant, viz. Proteaceae, Myrtaceae, Fabaceae and Epacridaceae. It is common to find dozens of species in a small area. Compact growth, small tough leaves and a profusion of small flowers characterise many species, although when not flowering many assume a confusing sameness of form.
Thorns are virtually absent, but are replaced by pungent leaves or stem tips. Herbaceous plants are not well represented in kwongan, although there are some spectacular ones such as leschenaultia, pop flower (Glischrocaryon) and triggerplants. Throughout the region, kwongan is commonly associated with taller shrubs, especially mallee eucalypts.
Kwongan covers large areas of the south-west, in particular north of Perth between the lower Murchison and Moore Rivers, in the south from Dumbleyung and the Stirling Range to Israelite Bay, and to the east and south-east of Southern Cross. Particularly rich areas are the Kalbarri, Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National Parks, and Mount Lesueur, near Jurien.
The above extract was taken from:
Corrick, M and Fuhrer, B (1998) pp 14; Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia, 5 Mile Press, Western Australia.
Below is a collection of photos from the "Wildflower Walk" for season details simply click on the photo.
Wildflower Walk