Lincolnshire rarieties

[SteveC2]

Rather than sit watching the Jubilee coverage I ventured out over the weekend in search of a few orchids.
My first venue revealed that the greater butterflies were at least two weeks later than last year, not yet open, but my man orchid venue was excellent, over 20 spikes compared with one last year.  And thanks to the rain some are woppers.
Then I have finally been given the location of our solitary burnt tip orchid site and wow, that's all I can say.  I'd seen cultivated ones before, but in the natural environment of an ancient meadow they are utterly impressive.

[Maggi Young]

Wonderful!

[daveyp1970]

Superb Steve,the burnt orchid just glows.

[Tony Willis]

Steve

what a great day,a lovely site. Too far for me unfortunately,would have been great if I still lived in Nottingham

[Maren]

Terrific sight, Steve, thanks for showing.

[fredg]

Looks like a very nice site Steve.
I find it strange that orchids are opening later this year after the mild winter and early warm spell and considering the terrible winter we had 2010/11.
I've noted that here too.

[SteveC2]

I have a theory, and it's only a theory, that the later flowering is because last year the prolonged cold spell came at a period when the plants would not have been growing too fast due to low light, November to February, after which the spring was warm, if very dry.  This year, at least in this part of the world, we had another drought until mid April, and when the rain finally came it was still too cold and around here, dull, for the plants to really grow away.  My dactylorhizas and cypripediums in pots simply sat still throughout April, then shot up in early May when we had our summer.  It lasted less than a week!  By this time last year most of my dacs had already flowered, this year the first of what I call my summer dacs are just opening.

[Neil]

Steve regrading the weather, I can only talk about where I live, December through to mid February was warmer than the previous year, however from mid Feb it has been much cooler.  Data collected from my Gas bill, gas central heating, which over the same period I used more gas, and I was hoping for a cheaper bill

[annew]

Beautiful, Steve!