Sunday 7th April 2019

For the past three weeks I have been seeing people in other parts of England post shots of orchids in flower. They first came from Dorset where the Early Spiders are out on Dancing Ledge, and then Early Purples began to show in North Kent.

So, I wanted to see some of my own.

But where to go?

It was too far to go to Stockbury, and those at Bonsai show later than most other places. I had been told of a site where the spikes were ahead of anywhere else, Earley Wood, but before we went there, there was Yockletts.

But when we woke up there was fog. Fog and drizzle. Maybe it would clear later?

So to give the weather a chance to improve, I watch the football from the previous day, and by the time we had a second cuppa it was nine. And still foggy.

Oh well.

In fact the fog was thick as anything, down to 25m, but we went out anyway, as those orchids were not going to find themselves. Out along the Alkham Valley then up to motorway and up Stone Street.

Turning off and then down the track that leads to the western extreme of the site, the bank is lines with celandine, wood anemones and many other wild flowers. It feels like spring, though the fog is still thick.

We park in the layby and after gather camera, other camera and ring flash, we begin to walk up the path into the reserve.

So many flowers now in bloom of shooting for the sky. So much to see. Twayblades putting forth spikes, and one which is even beginning to open. But not quite.

In the deep undergrowth I see what looks like a primrose, but somehow looks different. Could it be a False Oxlip? Indeed it was. So I snap it just to make sure.

We pause at the glade and look out over what should be the green and pleasant valley, but that is lost in the tree tops and mist. I could hear a tractor, tractoring, but not see it.

The other side of the road we walk up the steep path to the upper meadow, we see lot of Lady Orchid, Fly and Twayblade. Then a few Herb Paris beginning to unravel their leaves.

Nothing out in the upper glade, but lots about to pop,

Still no orchids seen out.

Along the path, past the huge Lady rosette beside the stump and into the wood. Nothing but bluebells, and many already out, but not making the blue carpet you see at peak bluebell.

Then we begin to see the Early Purple rosettes, some spikes, and then, one spike with a single open flower.

With ring flash, flashing, I snap it from all angles.

The season is open, and the game is afoot.

Anything else is now a bonus.

We walk back to the car, quickly as the drizzle gets heavier, and call in at the garden centre on Stone Street for some pagoda supports for the cup and saucer vines we bought.

Don't ask.

Then we have to get them into our tiny car and drive home.

Arriving home at lunch, and with the diet on pause until Tuesday, we have a new version of caprese and some garlic bread. And it was good.

There is football on the radio, so I listen to that whilst Jools puts together her "pop up greenhouse". More of that another day.

In the evening I win at Uckers, of course, but come from a long way behind to steal the win.

Of course.

And Norwich win a load of awards at the EFL awards, including player of the year to Temu Pukki.

We are living through amazing days, and once we are promoted. If we are promoted, I will write a rambling blog whilst drunk on hedgerow port and whisky.

It will be awesome, but not as awesome of the class of 2019.