Monday 19th May 2025

It is the second half of May, and the Kentish rarities, Monkey and Late Spider, are coming into flower.

We went to the gym in the morning, I upped the resistance and huffed and puffed my way through half an hour.

Then, back home for breakfast before going to Tesco for supplies, while Jools did gardening.

Tesco was filled with the usual idiots, including me, people just stop with trollies blocking aisles or sections of shelving. One woman blocked the berry section while she inspected every punnet of strawberries.

Then back home for bacon butties and brew, and time to for some orchiding.

First up was the public Late Spider site near Folkestone. Last week the front rosette had started to put up a spike, and seven days later, it was no further forward. This for an orchid that usually flowers before 10th May.

Its so dry up on the downs with no rain for months.

Up through Hawkinge then across through Acrise to Elham brought me to Park gate. I recognised the other Audi parked there as Terry's.

And sure enough as I entered the gate, he waved at me from the top of the down.

Life has been busy and none too nice, but there are smiles now, and time for orchids. It was good to catch up.

Then down to the orchids, and the Monkey, after not being able to see the Faversham ones.

Just a few small scattered spikes, but those were partly, or like this, mostly open. The good light made for fine and easy snapping.

I went to the far paddock, found two Greater Butterfly in flower, so snapped those too.

What now?

Late Spider Orchids.

The sacrificial site near to Folkestone has no flowering spikes. In fact, there has been little or no change in the visible spikes near the front of the fenced area.

I got a message: 16 spikes. Bee Orchids. I x probable hybrid.

I was already on my way.

The site was not far, as the crow flies, but I had to take the roundabout route, so to shake any spies that might have been following me.

I park on the lane, opposite is a fence and style.

Beyond is a grass track leading up and up.

My legs sighed in resignation.

And so, the last route march up the down, only to have to march back down in about an hour.

I stop plenty of times to take in the view, get my breath back. Until I reached the top of the slope, where the track turns left and down. Opposite, is the orchid bank.

But few know this.

I go over, and look close, soon finding a single LSO spike. It is perfect, turned to face the sun, its sepals acting like radar in tracking the sun.

A little further on was, to my surprise, was a Bee Orchid spike.

Not only is it early for Bee, but on this down, the Bee are found at the top. And yet here it was, growing among the Late Spiders.

I looked up and see a triple flower spike. Too perfect to ignore, so I climb one ledge up, and take in the three obviously Late Spider flowers.

On the far side of the small valley, I could see two figures, clearly looking for something on the ground. But apparently, they hadn't seen me yet. I would be walking right by them, an there would be questions to dodge.

Sure enough, as I walked closer, the taller figure, an elderly man with bushy beard was making his way down the slope, he approached me.

Beard: I guess we are looking for the same thing.

Me: But I found what I was looking for, what are you looking for?

Beard: Do you know where the Late Spiders are?

Me: maybe, how do I know I can trust you, there have been thefts.

Beard: I am the chairman of the Hardy Orchid Society.

Me: And your name is?

Beard: Dr Richard Bateman.

Me: Sorry, your reputation precedes you!

I waved in the direction of the down:

Me: to the left of the scrub.

We then had a long chat about orchids, and so on. We have some shared friends and experiences, only he is the authority on UK Hardy Orchids.

I bid him good hunting, and set off down the slope, chuckling to myself as I went. Dr Richard Bateman himself. Well. Well. Well.

I got to the car, and was going to go home via a pub, but instead went down through Etchinghill and onto the A20 past the Tunnel and onto the motorway to home.

A fine and funny end to the day.

Dinner was breaded chicken, Jersey Royals and salad. And wonderful and light it was too.

Another day of retirement passed, ending with Brighton v Liverpool, with Brighton coming from behind to win, 3:2.