In habitat:- Site 2 Ophrys

[fredg]

This was a remarkable visit, mainly due to having the uninvited company of a fellow in a tibetan hat who informed us he was self educated and was the proud bearer of six or so PHDs.
"Did you know that there are ten planets and one of them is black.... you can't blame the americans because they didn't want to pay taxes to a king they never saw.... there is more chance of seeing a UFO in Scotland than anywhere else....... The Romans ( did something or other locally)......... Scots are ok even if Bonnie Prince Charlie captured Derby....... did you know this is a SSI" ( trample trample kick )
This is what you get when Orchids grow on the grass verge of a main road.
Anyway, on with the photos.
Enjoy.

Ophrys apifera and friend


 

[fredg]

contd

[Tony Willis]

Sounds a fairly normal conversation for Chorley only with a few obscenities thrown in.

Those look wonderful.

I have not commented on any of the other site visits but they have been very interesting and excellent to see. The demise of coal mining seems to have led to a lot of good places for orchids to thrive.

I have only seen a few bee orchids up here in the sand dunes at Formby

[Ezeiza]

Tony, do these marvelous orchids grow in such a variety of soils? You mentioned dunes, disturbed soil (coal mine).

[Tony Willis]

Alberto

they grow in almost pure sand near me by the coast only a 100 m from the sea but I was looking at them in Spain a few weeks ago and there they were in a heavy clay soil but one that dries out in summer when the ground is baked.

I have never seen them elsewhere in the UK and perhaps Fred can comment on the soil in his area where he saw them.

[daveyp1970]

Tony and Alberto this site is a front lawn to an old concrete fabricators property the whole area Kirkby in Ashfield is a good place for many orchids,Bee orchids are found on about six large sites that i know around the town with colonies usually in there hundreds,there habitats range from heavy clay in the meadows to ex industrial areas(pits and factories)with free draining ground.The reason why i have answered your question is that i showed Fred this site last year and have been keeping an eye on it for the last fifteen to twenty years.

[fredg]

Sounds a fairly normal conversation for Chorley only with a few obscenities thrown in.

Tony, there were several £$%@&#* obscenities thrown in here too.

I believe Dave has answered the question on soil.
He's the one for orchid sites, I just take and post the photos

[Tony Willis]

I know the area well we lived in Nottingham for 12 years and I worked in the surrounding areas

[Anthony Darby]

Curious how most people seem to be viewing the grasshopper!

[Maren]

Ugh, I thought it was a locust.

[daveyp1970]

Your new camera fred is pretty good mate.

[fredg]

TY Dave 
The photos are not too bad for a camera under £100 are they

[Maggi Young]

TY Dave 
The photos are not too bad for a camera under £100 are they

A fine lesson to anyone who thinks they need to mortgage their Granny to get a good camera! 

[Anthony Darby]

Ugh, I thought it was a locust.

Not'n Nott'n'ham!

[Neil]

TY Dave 
The photos are not too bad for a camera under £100 are they

A fine lesson to anyone who thinks they need to mortgage their Granny to get a good camera! 

Now you tell me. 


Nice photos Fred