Orchid Season is upon us...

At last! A spell of warm weather and everything bursts into life. A walk around Whitestaunton yesterday produced a few nice Early Purple Orchids.

Early Purple Orchid

Today an early trip into Dorset with my brother, Duncan, yielded another early and controversial hybrid - the Fly x Woodcock orchid. Discovered a few years ago, the Fly x Woodcock orchid was discovered by accident on the side of the A35 between Yeovil and Dorchester. At first sight this unusual orchid could well be a Fly x Bee cross and it’s true parentage only became apparent after the plants were DNA tested. Whilst Fly Orchid is found locally across the region, Woodcock Orchid doesn’t knowingly occur in the UK.

Fly x Woodcock Orchid, Dorset

Fly x Woodcock Orchid, Dorset

The subtle beauty of the Fly X Woodcock Orchid

One thing’s for sure, it’s a subtlety beautiful little plant and worth the somewhat hazardous walk along the busy A35 to see it.

Also decided it was time to pay the local Green-winged Orchids a visit as they're now in their prime.

Green-winged Orchids

Green-winged Orchids

Common Twayblade

Wood Spurge