So it goes, so it goes.
I like an orchid every now and then, as you know. And most weekends in the spring and early summer, I drag Jools hither and thither, all over Kent and beyond, on the train of a really rare orchid, or some other such tall tale. Which is fine.
I also run an orchid group on Facebook, and last weekend we had a meet up in Rye to see a rare Bee Orchid, or a hundred. Don't ask, and with the season getting away from me, I wanted to go to Sandwich Bay to see the Lizard Orchids.
For the inner Republican in me, that such an outstanding area of natural beauty could be privately owned affronts me, but the security patrols, and now number plate recognition cameras, means that access is controlled, and the orchids very well protected.
So, with us being there, I said to the group, if anyone wants to meet up, be there at nine.
And with the shopping done the day before, there was no rush.
Except the sun was shining after we had coffee, and I had a plan to visit the two sites at Pegwell Bay before going to Sandwich.
![Dactylorhiza X grandis](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48070744382_28a56dee6e.jpg)
The site is public, and a lot of people go by on bikes, walking, or exercising their dogs, apparently hardly noticing the orchidly delights in plain view, sticking out of the undergrowth. I don't miss them, and for me a fine show of both species and a fine hybrid of the two are photographed and recorded.
![Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48070667698_493a814288.jpg)
We go down to see the Man Orchids before cutting through the undergrowth to find about a dozen Bee spikes, numbers triple from last year, then the pair of SMOs, I know there are more, but we had run out of time. So we dashed back to the car, turned round and drove to the other side of Sandwich, to the estate, paying a quid to get to the bird observatory, where three carloads of snappers and potential orchid addicts were waiting.
![Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48070616846_0c294a314c.jpg)
![Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072105352_fa741bb6a9.jpg)
![Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072105132_fceb0cf1ce.jpg)
We waved at each other, they went towards the green, and we went to the dunes.
![Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072104727_80c02308ef.jpg)
We walk on, come to two other photographers who had got sidetracked chasing some day flying moths. My group would have dallied too, as there were the first Lizards there too, but there are plenty more lizards over there, I said, pointing at the dunes just the other side of the fence.
![Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072048753_7b0cf895ea.jpg)
And hundreds.
![Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48072000276_0ed94f2046.jpg)
We walk down to the entrance to the golf club, where I know there are a few Bee spikes. We find them, as well as hundreds of developing partly open Pyramidal spikes.
It is orchid heaven. But already two hours, nearly, has passed. And I had let slip, no they remembered I had posted several pictures of a Birds Nest, and the hint was, take them there. My plan had always to go on to PGD to look at the Musks again, and Woolage was on the way, and a short visit could be squeezed in. So why not?
Why not indeed?
We drove in a four car convoy through Sandwich, onto the A256 and then on the Canterbury road to Wingham. We didn't get spit up, though came close. So we drove in procession into Woolage, parked on the main road, then walked to the wood.
As we stood over the single Birds Nest spike, now having gone to seed, a woman came from the house on the main road making sure we could find the orchids, she loves them, and wants to share the love too.
A really nice turn of events.
From there we drove to Barham, then down towards Elham, taking the narrow lane over the top of the Down to Park Gate, taking up all the parking spaces under the woods.
It was like herding cats, getting orchid newbies past the Monkey, Common Fragrant and Fly to the far paddock, where the musk lay hidden again in plain sight.
We walk to the spot, I turn to the five of them and say, there are three spikes withon six feet of all of us, can you find them?
I am a twat, as the spikes are tiny, little more than an inch high, and almost the same shade of green as the surrounding grass.
After a couple of minutes, I tell them to turn round.
![One hundred and sixty five](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48066650357_5b9e9847fa.jpg)
And two minutes later, one of them sees the line green spikes.
![Tephritid Fly Urophora quadrifasciata](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48067575126_2367188729.jpg)
Three tiny spikes, maybe more to come, but for now, another spikes for all of them to see.
Jools had booked a hair cut, and wanted to do some swimming, so time was running out. I bid them farewell, walk back to the car where Jools was waiting, and we were gone, driving back to Barham and onto the A2 and home.
What a morning.
We go home, have lunch of what is breakfast. I mean, fruit, yoghurt and coffee. Lovely.
Jools then goes out for swimming, a haircut and to meet with Jen and Sylv, who is back from buying a house in Bolton, and staying with Jen again.
I stay home to listen to music, write and edit shots.
![Mating](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48066942013_2ca95c78c0.jpg)
![Frog](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48066862863_fa85100f13.jpg)
Later, Jools comes home, we have dinner, listen to some music, and the day fades from view.
The evening, we have to relax, then go to bed early, as we have to take Jane to Stansted to catch a flight to a country called Spain.
Not been there myself, but I hear they do a good tapas and a glass of wine.
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