The Walls of Jerusalem wildflowers peak bloom?

[shauntho]

Hi all, I'm planning a hike into the Walls of Jerusalem this Summer, and was hoping to photograph the wildflowers at their best. In my guidebooks, they just suggest "Summer" as the optimum time to see the wildflowers. This is too vague for me as I've been there in Febuary and missed the peak bloom by a long way! Are there any experienced 'Walls' walkers out there who know the optimum time to see the wildflowers? ie. If you had to choose just one week of the year in the hope of seeing the bloom at it's best, what week would that be?

[Son of a Beach]

Any time in December, I reckon.

[eggs]

No doubt it varies from year to year - but Scoparia is the main target in the walls and we were too late when we went through 4th to 8th of January 2 years ago.

Having said that - it was nice this year to see a great scoparia display at Mt Field on 28th & 29th Jan. Not sure how the timing there would compare with the walls?
[Check out the Jan photo competition - there were 3 scoparia entries for Mt Field/Mt Rufus & Wylds Plateau]
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=5994

[johnw]

I saw brilliant and extensive displays of scoparia in various parts of the Walls from after Christmas into early New Year a few years ago. One of the best areas was along the Junction Lake track a few kms south of Lake Meston Hut, but also around Dixons Kingdom and on the track up to Mt Jerusalem. But I'd guess that eggs is right and the timing, and probably the quality, varies year to year.

[shauntho]

Cool, thanks for the advice, hopefully get in there around Christmas time....

[DaveNoble]

I was on a trip from Higgs Track to the Overland Track during mid-late January 2002 and saw an amazing scoparia flower display at the Walls and other places on the plateau. The display of flowers was much, much better than any I had seen previously in Tasmania during the late December-January period. I think the flowering season may have been delayed that summer (was it a late summer or colder than usual?) - but the result was every scoparia plant was full of flowers. See -

http://www.david-noble.net/Tasmania/Cen ... u2002.html

and

http://www.david-noble.net/Tasmania/Cen ... 002p2.html

You can see the scoparia display lasted till Cathedral Mtn - which we would have visited late January.

I think it is a cyclical thing - some years the wildflowers are much better than most other years.

Dave

[Nuts]

Ive heard some old timers say once every seven years. I guess that's with the 'old school' climate though Given the amazing bloom last summer be interesting to see what comes next.

[shauntho]

Once every 7 years you say Nuts! Gees I hope not!!! Those photos of Dave Noble's have got me excited! You certainly did strike it lucky on that trip Dave! And I love those photos titled "rim lakes". Very interesting.. Where are the "rim lakes"roughly??

[DaveNoble]

And I love those photos titled "rim lakes". Very interesting.. Where are the "rim lakes"roughly??

I've only seen this type of formation once - in a lot of travel in that area. But between 40 lakes Peak and Lake Lexie.

Dave

[eggs]

I did not notice this "Rim Lake" formation between 40 lakes Peak & Lake Lexie [which covers a large area]
- but we did see similar rows of Pineapple Grass at the lakes edge in the last main valley just north of the Long Tarns

Wider view of the lakes - Turrana Heights is the high point right rear