Lawn weed!

[steve_nova]

Out today cutting my front lawn where one area is lightly shaded and often quite damp. I noticed this purple flower amongst the daisies so knelt down to have a closer look and was totally surprised to find the Northern Marsh Orchid in perfect health (except for the chopped off leaf tips from the last cut!). I have cut around it with scissors and taken this picture. Not really all that rare but rather than just cut it, I will try and transplant it into the moist, slightly shaded border round the back.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Steve,

Not sure if they're transplantable. Might be better to mark its position, and remember to keep the mower off the spot for the critical months each year?

Michael

[steve_nova]

Thanks Michael.

[cjay]

To transplant orchids Successfully you need to dig a turf c 2 foot square & a foot deep. Then transplant onto another site. Orchids absoloutly hate Root disturbance.

CJ

[steve_nova]

Thanks Colin.

[Karl J]

Wish I had weeds like that !

Want to swap for some of my brambles ?

[steve_nova]

No thanks Carlos, I'll make do with the Horsetails in the border thankyou!.....and in between the paving slabs.....now where did I put that bottle of glyphosate...

[Paul Rule]

Hi Steve,

Looks to me like your lawn has not seen any treatment from any nasty chemicals, and you have been justly rewarded with your orchid.

My lawn is similar, and I have a Bee Orchid which should come into flower very soon (I will post a pic as soon as I getthe 1st flower).

Paul

[Karl J]

So how would they have got there ?

Is it likely to be seed dropped by birds or runners from a nearby plant ?

I only moved house a couple of weeks ago and getting stuck into the garden now, but I wouldn't want to do anything that'd prevent a plant like that appearing.

[Paul Rule]

Carlos

The seeds are very fine and can be dispersed over long distances by the wind. I have lived here for 14 years and last year was the first time anything like this showed up, although it may have been overlooked in previous years. Last year was very wet so the grass went a long time between cuts and I only just managed to avoid cutting it with the mower because I spotted the flower. This year I have 2 flowering plants (should have been 3 but my better half accidentally the other one 2 weeks ago), and a number of smaller ones so hopefully they are spreading, although it makes grass cutting somewhat tricky

[Karl J]

Thanks for that Paul, I won't hold my breath waiting then !

[cjay]

I found three Common Spotted & One Green winged orchid in my friends Garden yesterday.

[Joan & Matt]

Colin, don't believe there is a picture of a common spotted in the gallery! (J)

[steve_nova]

Yes Colin, how about a picture or two from your forays as well please.

Regarding the orchid, I too have only been here a year now so don't know how old it is. I will leave it I think now, and just mark the spot for reference when it hides away in the winter ready for the first cut of next year.

I know where an Epipactus helleborine is growing not too far from where I live so will take a picture of that when in flower even though they are a rather unspectacular green in colour.

Common Spotted Orchid really is more like a weed in these parts and is locally extremely common.

Joan and Matt, you have some spectacular Platanthera's over there so how about a picture when they are in bloom?

[Joan & Matt]

I'll do my best, Steve! I did find three Cypripedium calceolus (native orchid small yellow lady's slipper) a week or so ago and posted a picture. Those are special finds around here anymore, highly prized by orchid poachers. When poached, they probably usually don't survive the transplant long though; as I understand it, they need decomposing oak wood in the soil to grow. The large yellow and pink lady's slipper will take your breath away, haven't seen any of those in many years..... (J)

[cjay]

Sorry but I do not possess a digital camera.

I cannot therfore send any photo's
Sorry folks.

CJ

[Joan & Matt]

Pity, Colin, you post such wonderful finds; I'm curious about your many fungi! I do enjoy your verbal descriptions of your outings, very nicely done. (J)

[steve_nova]

Joan & Matt, I have procured seedlings of both species of Cyprepedium from a nursery here in the UK and they are doing fine. I expect them to flower in a few years from now...the wait will be worth it!

[steve_nova]

See if you can find Platanthera ciliaris! Though rare it flowers in August and can still be found in Michigan. Probably the finest American ground orchid species in my opinion.

Image from: http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/platantheracili.html

[Joan & Matt]

Steve, I've seen Cyprepedium in catalouges and wondered, the flowers look a bit different to me, but that could be either the photographs or regional differences among flowers? I've been tempted to buy some, but thought they weren't true to the wild orchid, and worried about bringing in a domesticated version to an area where the wild grow. I will definitely have to do more research on this, because if they are the same animal, er, I mean plant, I will be purchasing some, you bet! I do think I know where to find your beauty, Platanthera ciliaris, and will be out looking beginning in late July. I studied up a bit on the other Platantheras last night, and will be looking for them as well.... (J)

[seb_seb]

To the person who was giving away brambles- I WANT THEM!!
I try to let them occur naturally but they just wont appear. I had some brambles that gave nice flowers and berrys but then just died. Brambles and stinging nettles:t: Great mix

[LMG]

It must be a good year for orchids, perhaps because of the unusual weather we've had. We've had over 60 common spotted orchids in a small lawn this year. I dug them all up, kept some, and gave many away to friends. They are all beginning to flower now. I did have a couple in the borders last year, so they must've seeded from them. It was a lovely surprise to find so many. They are common in the fields here, but I've never had so many in such a small area - great. Here's a picture of two.

Seb_Seb:
I have loads of brambles and stinging nettles in my garden, come and help yourself! But wear strong gloves!!

[seb_seb]

I dont mind it when i get stung by nettles......but what really hurts is when i foolishly go outside bare feeted and step on 2 huge hawthorn....thorns, and i have one i each foot so i cant walk. That has happened twice!!!

Nice flowers LMG. I have found 6 individual plants of foxglove in a patch of my garden now!! Can anybody tell me anything about how to ensure they survive til next year?

[Joan & Matt]

Thanks for the photo, LMG! Lovely "weeds" you have there!!!

seb-seb, I can't walk out back without long pants and socks because of the stinging nettles, they HURT, and the sting lasts for half-an-hour, how can you stand it?! (J)

[seb_seb]

Mind over matter...just pretend your really being massaged!! haha

[Paul Rule]

I've been waiting for a while now but as last the Bee Orchids in my lawn have produced their first flower.

I have posted a close-up pic of the just emerged flower in the gallery. If you would like to see it click the link below.

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5930

[steve_nova]

Just seen it Paul and it's a cracker!

[Paul Rule]

Thanks Steve,

A couple more flowers have emerged today. I took the following image to show the whole plant.

I've also posted another macro image in the gallery (see link)which I think shows that the Nikon CP4500 is capable of producing high quality close up images.

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5955

[Joan & Matt]

Just remembered to check up on this site after being on vacation: OMG, that bee orchid is Totally Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they common where you live? I am completely knocked out. (J)

[Paul Rule]

John / Matt

Apart from my garden I know of a couple of local sites that these have been found, but they are not an everday find. They like close cropped turf, on chalk or limestone soil. When not in flower they are usually totaly overloooked. They often turn up in roadside verges and playing fields where unfortunately they are often cut down by mowers before or while the flowers are in bloom.