Ophrys and some others! 2011

[Tony Willis]

My dactylorhiza's in pots are now flowering,still some way to go for the self sown ones in the garden

Dactylorhiza saccifera

same species but the one crown has produced three spikes.
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Dactylorhiza ' Eskimo Nell'

[fleurbleue]

Eskimo Nell is a pure beauty Tony  ... 

[fredg]

Finally in its fourth year this one is increasing.
I grow it with my carnivores in pure live sphagnum and wet.

Calopogon tuberosus

[Maren]

Hi Fred,

lovely Calapogon, congratulations.

Where do you get the live sphagnum? I could do with some.

[Anthony Darby]

Sphagnum grows in any wet, peaty place in Scotland. The conifer plantation up the hill from where I used to live had ditches full of it.

[Maren]

Well, Anthony,
maybe I should have asked: where can I get some live sphagnum moss without travelling 800 miles to Scotland and another 800 miles back ? maybe if I ask nicely, someone will post me some?

[Anthony Darby]

Don't quote me Maren, but I should think there are peat mosses closer. Wales is pretty wet and I've seen sphagnum bogs in the New Forest. I don't suggest you head to your nearest and dig it up, but as you suggest, I'm sure someone can send you some. Squeeze out the water and put it damp in a poly bag and it's quite light enough to post without too much expense. Moss also doesn't go off quickly like most other vegetation. Also, sphagnum regenerates quickly in plantation ditches, so harvesting it is not damaging to the environment on two counts.

[SteveC2]

My last of the season, and I know that I've said that before, but this one has surprised me.  A first flowering of Ophrys apifera trolli, the wasp orchid variation of our bee orchid.  I never expected it to flower as the plant remained very small when others grew on.  I just hope that it's made next year's tuber. 

[Tony Willis]

Steve that is very lovely.

In flower now a Dactylorhiza purpurella, the Northern Marsh Orchid a gift from a garden visitor last year.

[Tony Willis]

two plants of

Orchis (Anacamptis) coriophora

[Neil]

Very nice Tony

[fredg]

Several plants have flowered during my short trip away.

1. Calanthe arcuata, this is hardier than I thought it was going to be, the greenhouse was subject to -17C last winter.
2. Calanthe arcuata
3. Calanthe arcuata
3. Dactylorhiza maculata, self set.
4. Dactylorhiza maculata
5. Dactylorhiza sp.
6. Platanthera metabifolia, I know it's not the season but this has me thinking "Hark the Herald Angels"
7. Platanthera metabifolia

[Claire Cockcroft]

Some dactylorhiza volunteers are starting to bloom.  The shorter pink hybrids always flower first.  D. fuchsii hybrids are not yet showing color.  Since all the dactylorhiza "mix it up" in the garden, I just call them all hybrids.

[Maggi Young]

Those are lovely, Claire.

I agree with you, the capacity of these orchids to "mix it up" as you put it means that it is much safer to call them all hybrids... and very beautiful they all are, in my opinion.

[Anthony Darby]

What do you mean by 'volunteers' Claire?