2014 UK Orchids (3 Viewers)

[Bodhyfryd]

I am taking the Warwickshire Flora Group to Devils Dyke near the end of June as leading a meeting for them. Just hoping the odd Lizard orchid will still be in flower.

Brian Laney.

Do you have any information as to whether they have started flowering yet, Brian?

Martin

 

[childhood memories]

weediest spotted

Possibly the weediest common spot on record, but it's a first from a new site in Hertfordshire (my back garden!)

seen weedier!

 

[slatts]

fragrant

I haven't been to my favourite fragrant spot in Aston Clinton this year which given the earlier start of most species should be reaching full bloom. It's an old quarry where there are tens of thousands of fragrants, common spots, and the odd hybrid. There might be a few greater butterflies left in sheltered parts. On a warm afternoon you can lie down and just let the scent waft over you. Also there's a great bee site at Ettington- although not great last year - but maybe the wet winter might have encouraged more plants this year. I saw a bicolour there in '07 .Closeby a nice wasp orchid site. There are Lizards and a great southern marsh site in Sandwich where you'll also find s.marsh/common spot hybrids. I'd be looking for fen orchids and e & s marsh orchids at Kenfig, s. marsh and lesser butterflies in the New Forest. There is a fantastic roundabout in eastbourne full of orchids this time of the year. If anyone has been to any of these sites it would be nice to know how things are this year and if anyone wants to go please pm me.

 

[derby118]

I haven't been to my favourite fragrant spot in Aston Clinton this year which given the earlier start of most species should be reaching full bloom. It's an old quarry where there are tens of thousands of fragrants, common spots, and the odd hybrid. There might be a few greater butterflies left in sheltered parts. On a warm afternoon you can lie down and just let the scent waft over you. Also there's a great bee site at Ettington- although not great last year - but maybe the wet winter might have encouraged more plants this year. I saw a bicolour there in '07 .Closeby a nice wasp orchid site. There are Lizards and a great southern marsh site in Sandwich where you'll also find s.marsh/common spot hybrids. I'd be looking for fen orchids and e & s marsh orchids at Kenfig, s. marsh and lesser butterflies in the New Forest. There is a fantastic roundabout in eastbourne full of orchids this time of the year. If anyone has been to any of these sites it would be nice to know how things are this year and if anyone wants to go please pm me.

You may have spotted by earlier report: the lesser butterflies are excellent on the New Forset at the moment, best I've seen in 3-4 years - PM me if anyone would like directions!

 

[maslyni]

Hi Chris

for the photos embedded in your post, presumably the Waitby plant, have you considered a hybrid with Common Spotted? The loops on the lip are suggestive of that origin.

For the Tarn Sike plant, what about the hybrid with incarnata Early Marsh?

Rich M

Agree with Rich. Both are clearly hybrids. Still nice though

I was at Tarn Sike a couple of years ago. There are some weird and wonderful hybrid flavours there. A fascinating place for more than Orchids also

M

 

[ladybee]

Common Spot

Possibly the weediest common spot on record, but it's a first from a new site in Hertfordshire (my back garden!)

Interesting - Derbyshire also has a new site - my back garden||. Sadly it didn't just arrive, I had to buy it.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Always nice to see plants growing in the less probable locations. Thanks to "Muba" for alerting us to the presence of a nice population of Bees (we counted 29 flowering plants in good nick this afternoon) growing outside a very large factory on the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Martin and Elaine

 

[Chris Hind]

Agree with Rich. Both are clearly hybrids. Still nice though

I was at Tarn Sike a couple of years ago. There are some weird and wonderful hybrid flavours there. A fascinating place for more than Orchids also

M

Hi M

Thanks for your input - interesting stuff.

Chris

 

[lizard orchid]

Do you have any information as to whether they have started flowering yet, Brian?

Martin

I have not heard anything but I would give it another week. Best not to "jump the gun" so to speak.

Brian Laney.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

I have not heard anything but I would give it another week. Best not to "jump the gun" so to speak.

Brian Laney.

Thanks, Brian. We have to come to Cambridgeshire next week, so may try then.

 

[MarkHows]

Thanks, Brian. We have to come to Cambridgeshire next week, so may try then.

I work locally so visited tonight, most Lizards still in bud but some are out.
A few pics to illustrate. Bee orchids out and pyramidal just starting to flower also on site.


Mark

 

[Bodhyfryd]

I work locally so visited tonight, most Lizards still in bud but some are out.
A few pics to illustrate. Bee orchids out and pyramidal just starting to flower also on site.


Mark

Many thanks for that update, Mark. I have also sent you a PM.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Saw this beauty at the weekend! By far the best rhodochila Common spotted I've seen - in fact, the best Common Spotted I've ever seen!

Better than a shaggy snake eagle year tick

Visited Chappetts, where three definite hybrid Cephalanthera seen, but the Sword-leaved mostly browning and going over. One of the hybrids was quite tall. 6'4" Young Hunter for comparison.

Noar Hill had a tiny number of Musk Orchids coming out, and two ochroleuca Fly Orchids among the small colony there, although they were already starting to look tatty.

 

[IJS]

Was out and about in the Chilterns earlier in the week. Found:

• White helleborines +/- eaten by deer, some had escaped but had gone a day later!
• Common spotted +/- very heavy lip marking
• Common spotted var alba
• Twayblade - normal green and nice 'copper' top type
• Greater butterfly
• Early purples going over but still nice to see in open conditions
• Chalk fragrant just coming into flower - fabulous scent in the early evening too.

 

[slatts]

I'd be interested in knowing about late spiders and man orchids in kent. I saw them at a couple of sites on 10th june last year. But it was a cold year last year, I bet they are way ahead this year. There is a great stand of large bee orchids at a car park near Fetcham Surrey. These are taller than any I've seen with many flowers on each stem.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Saw this beauty at the weekend! By far the best rhodochila Common spotted I've seen - in fact, the best Common Spotted I've ever seen!

Gorgeous Rhodochila indeed! We are keeping our eyes open for the two plants which flowered at AWCP in 2012. Sadly they did not appear last year, nor so far this.

Martin

 

[dungeness1]

I'd be interested in knowing about late spiders and man orchids in kent. I saw them at a couple of sites on 10th june last year. But it was a cold year last year, I bet they are way ahead this year. There is a great stand of large bee orchids at a car park near Fetcham Surrey. These are taller than any I've seen with many flowers on each stem.

The Late Spiders have been out about a week and in good condition. The Man Orchids for sometime.

 

[muba]

Always nice to see plants growing in the less probable locations. Thanks to "Muba" for alerting us to the presence of a nice population of Bees (we counted 29 flowering plants in good nick this afternoon) growing outside a very large factory on the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Martin and Elaine

We made it 34 including two with broken stems. I think they look better than 2013, but noticed that where they grow did not seem to have been cut prior to the spikes emerging. I hope they get to set seed before the strimmers arrive.

 

[muba]

A very happy Bee Orchid

to cheer you up

 

[James K]

I had a morning out on the Durham coast earlier this week with the highlight being four spikes of Burnt-tips a little past their best. A single Early Purple was in surprisingly good condition whilst lots of Common Spotted were beginning to flower along with a handful of Northern Marsh and hybrids between the two. Half a dozen Twayblades were still a way off flowering as were the numerous Pyramidals also present.