Thursday 12th June 2025

It is nearly mid-June, and so it is summer.

And getting hotter.

It has been a strange orchid season due to the drought; some species have thrived and others really struggled.

Most disappointing were the thousands of Lizard Orchid spikes at Sandwich Bay reduced to maybe a hundred or so, and whole once orchid-rich areas a barren desert.

However, Sandwich itself is an orchid Mecca, with the area around Discovery Park having over 1500 spikes in a good year.

But this isn't a good year. However, there is more moisture here, and there is lush vegetation, so maybe we should go and investigate.

I should go an investigate.

Jools drove us to Sandwich, then slowly up and down the bypass, where I saw some spikes, then round the new retail area where there were more spikes.

We parked at Monks Bank, and while Jools looked in the reserve, I went for a walk along the main roads, always staying behind the crash barrier.

Except when I didn't.

I found maybe 50 spikes, but most were very pale, with just colour at the top of the lips and inside the hoods, more of a variation than seen down in the Bay.

It is odd, botanising between the cast away trash from drivers that escape or are thrown from their cars, but here, nature endures. And thrives.

I get to the bridge over the Stour, and decide that was enough, so walk back, taking more shots.

Opposite the entrance to the reserve, a good dozen large spikes were showing on the central reservation, so I dashed across, climbed up and snapped them too.

I decided that was enough, so met Jools back at the car, and from there drove to Preston for some meaty supplies, then back via Jen's as we had news to share, and a VCR head-cleaning tape for John to drop off.

The sun had burned through the cloud and it was hot. So, back home for lunch and a lazy afternoon reading or listening to podcasts.

Cats slept until the shadows grew long.