Thursday 21st April 2011
I've just been on my annual visit to a local unremarkable Pennine valley to my secret Early Purple Orchid site. This is a small area of neutral or lime rich soil from glacial deposit surrounded by a more acid type of vegetation such as Bilberry and Heather. The orchids are in flower almost three weeks earlier than last year. I counted 25 flower spikes, about the same as last year this is about the average, the colony is holding it's own but has not increased for several years.
The site on scrubby hillside
This orchid still had last years old flower spike
The young shoots of the Northern Giant Horsetail some of the plants have already shed their spores
And finally I found my first Meadow Mushroom of year. I don't think Ive every found them as early as April before.
I've just been on my annual visit to a local unremarkable Pennine valley to my secret Early Purple Orchid site. This is a small area of neutral or lime rich soil from glacial deposit surrounded by a more acid type of vegetation such as Bilberry and Heather. The orchids are in flower almost three weeks earlier than last year. I counted 25 flower spikes, about the same as last year this is about the average, the colony is holding it's own but has not increased for several years.
And finally I found my first Meadow Mushroom of year. I don't think Ive every found them as early as April before.
Love the Orchid good to hear it's at least holding its own.
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