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2012 UK Orchid season updates (1 Viewer)

Kent Trip

Had a great time in Kent 26/5/2012 found Fly,Lady,Monkey,Greater Butterfly
and White Helleborine,high light was this male wasp trying to mate with Fly Orchid
 

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Fantastic Orchid Day

Had a great day out yesterday 26-05-2012

Started off at North Buckinghamshire for the Millitary Orchids roughly 300 to 500 plants on this site. 2 very impressive plants at this site.
Fly Orchids virtually everywhere and some fantastic specimens amongst them.
13 Birdsnest Orchids in a very small area.

We then moved onto Hartslock for the Monkey Orchids. I was a little dissapointed with these compared to previous years.

After a breif disscussion we decided to go too Warwickshire for Sword-leaved Helleborines.
This was definateley the plant of the day for me.
28 Plants in total
21 in flower and another 5 non flowering spikes plus 2 not quite in flower


Milliatary-Orchid.jpgMilliatary-Orchid-(5).jpgSword-leaved-helle-(5).jpgSword-leaved-helle.jpg
 
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Ranscombe Park, Rochester, Kent today: 1 Lady Orchid plus 7 Man orchid (snow white and the seven dwarves?), 1 Fly Orchid, c100 White Helleborines. The helleborines mostly had some way to go; everything else was well out. One of the Man was up to my knee - and I'm not a short fella.

James
 
Found a colony of Man Orchids today near Dartford estimated at 150+ plants. Pleasing to find these less than 20 minute walk from my front door!
217 Man Orchids south of Eynsford - all in good flower

Regards

James
 
Sandscale had 65 Coralroots out at the weekend, and the Northumberland site also had good numbers, which had just come into flower. they won't last long in this weather though!

In Devon, on Exmoor, eight Lesser Twayblades, with only one in flower. Please do not ask me for this site, as it is visrtually impossible to give directions to the plants' exact location!

Sean

James - can you email me your Man gen please, as in the area tomorrow. Cheers.
 
Sandscale had 65 Coralroots out at the weekend, and the Northumberland site also had good numbers, which had just come into flower. they won't last long in this weather though!

In Devon, on Exmoor, eight Lesser Twayblades, with only one in flower. Please do not ask me for this site, as it is visrtually impossible to give directions to the plants' exact location!

Sean

James - can you email me your Man gen please, as in the area tomorrow. Cheers.

Hi Sean - PM sent. I am visiting the site with Paul on Weds evening if you are about
 
Hi Sean,

When do you think the remaining seven Twayblades will be flowering? Just like to get an idea for the time for a trip to Exmoor.

Dave.
 
Here are a few pics from last weekend as promised!

1. 2. Lady Orchid
3. Monkey Orchid
4. Green hairstreak on Monkey x Lady hybrid
5. Monkey x Lady Orchid
 

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And a few more

1 and 2. Hybrids
3. Common Fragrant Orchid
4. Early Spider Orchid
 

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Kent Lady variations

You could laugh when you read the lip descriptions of the Lady orchids, here's a small selection from Kent:-

Alan
 

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More from Kent

I think most forum members will appreciate by now that I'm always on the lookout for something a bit unusual, a few oddities from my Kent trip.

Alan
 

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Down in Kent, the Lady's at Yockletts are looking pretty good-a few Fly's also, but the Early Purples pretty much over. One or two Common Spotted and White Helleborines just starting to come up.
Very few Monkeys at Park Gate-only found four and just starting to open. The Early Purples are much better.

I was at Park Gate on 24th and the Monkeys were starting to look better - over a dozen flowering specimens, and more coming through. There was a particularly fine one some distance away from the usual flowering area. Also some Early Purples still in reasonable condition, and a couple of nice fresh Green-winged.

Common Twayblades much in evidence here and at Yockletts, and some decent Ladies at Yockletts - though nowhere near the numbers I recall that site once hosting, and no sign of the alba I used to regularly see there.

Jon
 
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