For Those In Search of a Hobby: A Millennial’s Guide to Orchid Hunting
Photos and story by Khaiah Thomson
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a millennial in the prime of their life must be in want of a new hobby. From indoor plants to preserving foods, paint-by-numbers, smoking meats, and birdwatching (ahem, that is a raven, not a crow), social media takes great joy in making fun of millennial hobbies. Yet by the time you reach the end of this article and can quote at least three scientific names for orchid species, you and I will be the ones laughing… Probably at ourselves.
Now, I am mindful not to bore you to tears with my nerdy drivel about this very cool and diverse species of flora, so I’ll try very hard to stick to the highlights. May it foster in you the same sense of excitement and wonder that it does in me.
I developed an interest in hunting native orchids somewhere close to ten years ago. I’d been telling a gentleman from church about how amazing the wildflowers were that spring, following a bushfire, and he asked if I’d seen any orchids. My idea of orchids was the hot-house kind—the tropical ones found growing on the side of a tree. He explained that Western Australian orchids are all terrestrial (grow in soil), diverse in appearance, and are in fact much cooler than your typical native flower for several reasons mentioned below:
Australia has an incredible variety of orchids, with around 1,500 to 1,800 species nationwide. Many of these are not only unique to Australia but are considered among the rarest in the world. We have around 450 species in Western Australia. A third of these have conservation listings, and 10% are rare and considered threatened species. The gentleman I mentioned above, a retired botanist, said that orchids can stay dormant for years (one species can lie dormant for 7 to 10 years!) and that each subspecies of orchid has its own set of environmental conditions that need to be met in order to bloom: a certain amount of shade or sunlight, a certain amount of rain or humidity, specific temperatures, the right soil conditions, and the right fungi for nutrient absorption. A few species even require fire during their dormant period to bloom. Depending on the type of orchid and how fussy it is, when you spot one in the wild, there’s a chance you may not see it again for years—if ever. Some take their level of pedantry up yet another notch and require specific pollinators. Take the Hammer Orchid of the Drakaea family, for example, which can only be pollinated by a thynnid wasp. The orchid looks and smells like a female wasp, fooling the male wasp into attempting to mate with it.
How cool is that?
The first year I went orchid hunting in the reserve near our old home, I found a White China Orchid (Cyanicula ixioides). The area where I found it remained undisturbed, but it never bloomed again during the five years we lived there.
These wonders of God’s creation bring to mind Matthew 6:25–29, especially verses 27–29:
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Now consider orchids—and how they grow!
As I write this, I can’t help but reflect on how similar people are to orchids. Each of us has unique set of requirements that need to be met to grow and bloom. And just like orchids, we also go through periods of dormancy.
After the birth of my second son, I went through a difficult season—both physically and mentally—as many parents of newborns do. I remember scoring in the moderate range on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at my son’s three-month check-up. I hoped the child health nurse might offer some support—acknowledgment, at the very least. Just a simple “juggling two kids is hard,” or “lack of sleep is hard,” or “having a baby that cries every time you put him down is hard.” But instead, she told me how I was feeling was normal.
I didn’t feel normal.
I felt like I was in a strange vortex—unable to see beyond myself, my little family, or our home. I was just trying to keep my head above water, catch a bit of sleep, and survive—while still attempting to be a semi-decent parent and wife.
Thankfully, there was light at the end of the tunnel. It didn’t last forever.
But when I did come out the other side, I was overwhelmed by guilt—guilt over everything I had neglected: my faith, my family, my friends. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had volunteered for anything at church.
I offloaded my guilt to one of my sisters as we sat on the beach during a rare child-free moment. She said something I’ll never forget:
“God understands how chaotic life can be when you’re parenting young children. He allows for seasons when we’re not focused on growth—in ourselves or in our faith—but instead on sustaining, resting (where we can) and regaining our strength.”
Just like orchids, there are times for blooming, and there are times for dormancy. Times to grow, and times to rest. Sometimes a season of quiet and slowness in needed to give us the strength to flourish and thrive.
I promised not to bore you, so like an excited grandmother showing off pictures of her grandchildren, I’ll share with you my three favourite orchids (so far). I’ve included their scientific names because I’m trying to educate myself—after all, you never know when a conservationist like the lovely Dr. Eddy Wajon might quiz you on the proper names of native flora. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like that disappointed dad glance when you flounder and grasp to find your smart words.
For anyone who has read my Welcome to Blackwood trilogy, each of these orchids has made a guest appearance in one of the books. That’s how much I love them. Lol. Enjoy!
Blue Lady Orchid – Thelymitra crinita
Mindful and demure, these blue beauties were endemic in the reserve close to my last home. A beautiful sea of velvety blue with speckles of yellow graced us almost every spring.
Red Beaks – Pyrorchis nigricans
These are one of the few orchids that require fire to bloom—which alone makes them awesome. To me they look like vampiric—mysterious, morally grey characters from a gothic novel. I’m yet to find one in the wild.
Queen of Sheba – Thelymitra variegata / Thelymitra speciosa / Thelymitra pulcherrima
She is the “it” girl from every 90s romcom: the head-turner, the Holy Grail for orchid people. There are three varieties of QoS, but the one pictured is the eastern variety. Isn’t she gorgeous? This was a huge tick off the bucket list for me!
In Western Australia, orchid season typically runs from July to November, peaking in spring. Timing can vary depending on rainfall, fire activity, and microclimates. So, for my WA friends, the peak season is just beginning!
For those wondering how to tell orchids apart from other wildflowers, it can be tricky at first—but with time, you develop a knack for it. Orchids have a distinctive flower structure, often featuring a funky-looking petal called the labellum (or lip), which is usually larger than the other petals (though occasionally smaller). This petal acts as a beacon for pollinators.
While most flowers have radial symmetry (like a wheel), orchids typically display bilateral symmetry—more like a face. That said, this isn’t a universal trait. I’m sure an orchid expert could give you better advice, but basically, if you spot a cool or alien-looking flower in the bush, there's a good chance it’s an orchid.
To help with identification, you can consult resources like A Guide to Native Orchids of South Western Australia by Bob Liddelow, join online communities such as the Western Australian Native Orchids Facebook group, or use plant ID tools—just take a photo and tap the little leaf icon to “Look Up Plant.”
Personally, I use all three!
Just remember: do not pick them, as tempting as it may be. Orchids are fragile and slow to regenerate. Many species rely on highly specific conditions—including fungi and pollinators—to survive, and picking them disrupts the ecosystem. Observing and taking pictures helps preserve their beauty for everyone.
Are you excited and ready to head out on an orchid-hunting adventure? Maybe a little unsure where to begin? Luckily for you, I’ve laid out a step-by-step guide below (disclaimer: I had some fun with Canva, follow at your own risk). Please note, I am no expert. I am just a girl, standing in front of a Caladenia huegelii, asking it to stop wobbling so I can get a decent picture. Hopefully, I’ll see you out there!
Take care and tread lightly—happy orchid hunting!
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Khaiah Thomson—Regular Contributor
West Australian Author Khaiah Thomson pens the Blackwood series. The first book Welcome to Blackwood won the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize in 2020. Khaiah first decided to write young adult fiction novels as a way to exercise her brain while on maternity leave. She wanted to create a magical escape for young readers, all the while gently weaving in themes of God’s love through the timeless battles of good versus evil, unconditional love and the power of redemption.
Khaiah lives in Perth with her husband and two sons. When she isn't working or in her home office writing, Khaiah can usually be found nose-deep in a book, gaming or at the nearest cafe, hovering close to the coffee machine. Khaiah’s Welcome to Blackwood series can be found in all good bookstores and Hawkeye Books.