The Monkey is found just in Kent and Oxfordshire, and this is its only natural site in kent, but is also on private property, but is managed. We only saw a handful of spike this uear, although a 5th was found growing through thick grass at the bottom of the paddock. But sadly, there was no recurrence of the Monkey x Man found last year here
At PGD, the Monkey were a little later, and I only got there once we were back from our Scottish holiday. But a good year for the Monkey, with numbers up on 2016, which is good.
Also seen on the 12th May, on a spur of the moment decision to visit one of the Late Spider sites, I came across a single flowering spike, all alone in the turf, and I was the first person to see it that year. We are normally lucky to see a LSO out by the end of May or first week in June when we used to run our orchid safaris. 
At the other site I visit, I found a mono colour version. After speaking to the county recorder, it appears this is the third time in about 8 years this spike has flowered. It is a variation not recorded anywhere else in this species, although has been seen in Bee Orchids. So, because of its uniqueness, it is not names, but if it was, it would be var. fulvofusca.
The dry weather affect Man Orchids, with numbers and spike size down on previous seasons. Although I did record the first flowering spike in 1st May, when I found a single flower on one spike open. Does it for me.
By May 12th, at least half of most spikes were open, but it was at that point, for me the season paused as it was time for our friend Tony to come over from NZ.
Meanwhile, down by the sea, their yellow cousins were also coming along nicely. his is an isolated population and the only one I know of in Kent this colour.
By the end of May, once we were back, all Man were at their peak: your regular Man of Kent.
The first Musk spike was seen, just 2cm high, on the 28th May
And by mid-June there were about a dozen spikes, good size too.
By the end of May, the season was running away with itself, in fact it was almost possible to see the end of the 2017 season. Down by the sear near Ramsgate, the Southern Marsh were seen already in flower and at their peak. Amazing really, these are usually seen two weeks later or so.
On June 3rd, I saw what may be a hybrid, a Common Fragrant x Common Spotted. Shows characteristics of both, so who knows?
On June 4th, I took Jools to see the delights of the only freshwater meadow that has the Early Marsh Orchid still. Only three pure EMO were seen, and the meadow was pretty dry too. Maybe not too long before this is extinct in the county, sadly.
With the holiday away, I was playing catch up with the main sites and main season orchids. Just not enough time to get round them all, so it was we went to PGD to look for Musk, I saw three colour variations of Common Fragrant:
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