I have split the season into four parts; the early the main, the late and autumn.
It seemed I spent months, the first three months of the year, checking woodland sites, the dunes, for signs of orchids. The early purple rosettes were showing in the woods from late December. The warm January and early February meant we had hope of seeing them flower in March, but a late cold snap put pay to that, and caused the leaves of the rosettes to turn yellow and wither. Out on the dunes, the Early Spiders showed, but just did not grow any more for weeks. I checked week after week, waiting to see signs of a spike, of a open flower. But no.
The first orchid, for me, occurred at Samphire on April 15th. I was working away all week, but I saw from friend's pictures on Flickr that spikes were flowering. I found 9 flowering spikes, including this one, the very first:
Two days later, I ventured to Stockbury and found a single Early Purple, flowering in a pool of spring sunshine: the season was open!
Further along, there were more, dotted around the bluebells, which were also beginning to open, making a fine contrast between the blue and purple.
It was a fabulous season for Early Purples, with Samphire Hoe being glorious. The main part of the colony is moving eastwards, with the coach car park now host to huge numbers of very vigorous spikes. Mixed in were a few var. Faversens, looking pale in comparison. 
Some were even stranger:
The Early Purples came good later in the month, with the usual large specimens at Barham, with the usual mix of pinks and whites too. Although, not true va. albas, just very pale pink.
Down at Kingsdown, the strong breeze really stunted growth of the few that linger on there, and I only saw two spikes partially open, but with the main season approaching, I dod not get the chance to return to check at the beginning of may before we left for Japan.On May 1st, we drove over to Marden Meadow for the display of Green Winged Orchids. It was too early really, but with the Japan trip now so near, I had little choice of going then, or fear of missing them, and not having the time to return at the end of the month, when the main season would be ranging.
We arrived at seven in the morning, with the sun low in the south east, and the meadow glistening with fresh dew. Only a few spikes were open, but it was worth the trip, and shooting into the sun, I got some stunning shots.
On May 4th, the day before we left for the Far East, and after dropping the cats off at the cat hotel, I went to Yockletts to hunt for a Fly and a Lady. I searched for an hour, the second time I had done this, last time ended up in a downpour, getting soaked. But high above the usual haunts, I find a single spike, just open.
A few yards away, there was a partially open Lady, looking wonderful in the sunshine. A hint of the glories to come once I returned from Japan some two weeks in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment