Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 09:37:55 PM

Title: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 09:37:55 PM
Today I visited Killard Nature Reserve in County Down. It sticks out in to the sea. It's well known for it wild flowers and orchids. I was there today to look for orchids. Very disappointed because they are so late yet mine are very advanced.

In flower and looking rough were A. morio the green-winged orchid, D. viridis the frog orchid just starting, Listera ovata the twayblade just starting and a white bee orchid still in bud. Does anyone have a photo of a white bee orchid?
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 09:46:26 PM
OMG I need to go back and photograph it http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/568129406/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/568129406/#) The sad thing it's growing in the middle of a track and is very likely to be flattened by vehicle or feet.

The leader of the group was very dismissive of my plants. I went with loads of photos to share and show. If in doubt call it a hybrid. When a showed my variegated fuchsii he said "That's obviously a hybrid. When two species cross the seedlings take on the characteristics of both parents" I dont know of any white leaved orchids.

That put me off him and even more when his lecture consisted mainly of photos of pages in a book.
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: daveyp1970 on May 31, 2012, 09:47:09 PM
Mark they can be white in bud then colour up pink,i thought i had found a white a few times to be gutted when i went back,but still yours might turn out white cross fingers.If so a pic is a must did you take any pics of the frog orchid.
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 09:51:56 PM
The frogs were so difficult to photograph. My camera had great difficulty seeing them because they were so small.

I'm editing photos just now. The most exciting plant was a pink Anacamptis morio
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: daveyp1970 on May 31, 2012, 10:06:36 PM
Sounds nice Mark,i have never seen frog in the wild,there is a place near me where it is but couldn't find it,with you saying its small no wonder i didn't find it.I will now go back this year .
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 11:16:44 PM
Davey they were no higher than a wee finger and the same colour of the grass. I think they would be perfect in pots and troughs.

I forgot to say I also saw D. incarnata coccinea. The leader called it cock-cinea. I would have said cotch-inea
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 11:17:48 PM
A. morio
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 11:20:06 PM
A. morio pink form. I want one! Who sells this form?
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 11:21:10 PM
Dactylorhiza viridis
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on May 31, 2012, 11:26:16 PM
Also seen were many Small heath butterflies
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: Maren on May 31, 2012, 11:42:01 PM
Hi Mark,

for the pink Anacamptis morio you'll have to go back and collect the seed. Just put a metal prod beside it and go back later with your metal detector. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: daveyp1970 on June 01, 2012, 12:11:23 AM
Mark fantastic stuff,thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on June 01, 2012, 12:14:44 AM
Maren maybe I could remove next years tuber  ::) :o I could leave a stone beside the plant
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: Maren on June 01, 2012, 08:24:37 AM
Mark, make sure you wear your invisibility outfit. If you were to be spotted with a trowel next to wild orchids, there could be tears at bedtime :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on June 01, 2012, 09:07:31 AM
I told the reserve manager he should propagate orchids and have them avalable for sale
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on June 08, 2012, 10:44:44 PM
The last two weeks have been nothing but rain and I havent been able to get back to photograph more orchids
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: Maren on June 08, 2012, 11:33:32 PM
I told the reserve manager he should propagate orchids and have them avalable for sale

and what was his reply??? ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: mark smyth on June 08, 2012, 11:41:31 PM
He thought it was a great idea
Title: Re: Killard Nature Reserve
Post by: Maren on June 10, 2012, 12:54:26 AM
I believe you. ;D
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