Fly orchid, Ophrys insectifera Fly orchid: said to resemble a fly. To me, it's an alien making a parachute landing. There's a pale, bluish colour that looks like a belt-buckle- part of a harness. Up to you how you see it. Wherever imagination takes you, finding fly orchid is a challenge. It grows singly, or with only a few others. It's easily confused with the dark flowers of sedge, and it's tiny.
The morning was cloudy, with veiled sunlight which brought out the rich, velvety look of the fly orchid.
At this season, the flora of the limestone grassland is burgeoning. Fragrant orchid appear in profusion, in bud and in flower.
The morning was cloudy, with veiled sunlight which brought out the rich, velvety look of the fly orchid.
At this season, the flora of the limestone grassland is burgeoning. Fragrant orchid appear in profusion, in bud and in flower.
'The' fly orchid site is known to several locals who love flora. We do our best to share and protect the flowers by placing larch twigs around them. So we can relocate them and avoid stepping on them. It feels like sharing a secret.
Fragrant orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea
Budding Dark Red Helleborine, Epipactis Atrorubens, with flowers of Herb Robert
I heard redstart in shrubs close to Scout Scar escarpment and found the pair feeding young.
A pair of common blue butterflies were in courtship dance.
A pair of common blue butterflies were in courtship dance.
21 June. A flash of white on the rump as the bird flew and, left behind on the top-stones of a wall, a fledgling wheatear. Those top-stones are so irregular, jagged, they can conceal young birds well. And a pipit with a beak crammed with insects. The first fly orchid shows- early for this orchid on Scout Scar, although I know they flower earlier at Waitby Greenriggs.
Frog orchid, Coeloglossum viride The delicate colour of this frog orchid is a delight. At first glance, this specimen looked olive-colour and lurked down in the grass beside a flowering plantain. The first fresh frog orchid of the season.
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