A very rare sight of a albino var. rosia of the Violet Helleborine growing in the Beech woods on the Chiltern Hills. August 2009.

A close up of the albino Violet Helleborine.

The typical flowers of the Violet Helleborine in the Beech woodlands of the Chiltern Hills, August 2009.

 

The Hebridean Marsh Orchid, North Uist. June 2009. The World population of this orchid grows mostly on 2 areas of dune slack on North Uist, where it is quite common.

 

Early Marsh Orchids ssp coccinia on the Machair, North Uist. June 2009.

 

Monkey Orchis, Oxfordshire. Late May 2009. This rare British orchid is restricted to this site on the Chiltern Hills, and several sites in Kent.

 

A close up of the Lady Orchid from Kent. This species of orchid in Britain is mostly found in the woods of north Kent, where they may be quite common in mid May.

 

This is a hybrid between the Monkey and Lady Orchid, and occurs on one site in the Oxfordshire Chiltern Hills. Late May 2009.

 

Two fine specimens of the Military Orchid, Oxfordshire, late May 2009.

Military Orchid close up. Oxfordshire. May 2009.

 

Lady's Slipper Orchid at Silverdale, Cumbria, May 2009. I understand that someone dug this plant up a few days after I photographed it.

Close up of the Lady Slipper Orchid. Cumbria, Late May 2009.

 

Green-winged Orchid. Upwood Meadow NNR, Cambs. Mid May 2009.

 

 

Common Spotted Orchids are one of our most attractive orchids. The Chiltern Hills, June th 2009.

 

Burnt Orchids, Bedfordshire, May 2009.

 

 

Autumn Ladies Tresses, Britain's latest flowering Orchid.

 

 

Late Spider Orchid, a rare British species restricted to Kent.

 

A "Wasp" form of the Bee orchid. Bedfordshire. June 2008.

 

The "Wasp" form trollii of the Bee Orchid is a rare site in Eastern England, but found regularly in some sites in south west England from the Costwolds to Dorset.

 

 

The typical form of the Bee Orchid. Note the pollinia dangling on flexible stalks, a breeze will put them in contact with the stigma, and so self pollination achieved.

 

 

A very dark lipped form of the Bee Orchid. Biggleswade, June 2008.

 

 

Bee Orchid, form bicolor, a rarity in Britain. Essex, June 2006.

 

 

Bee Orchid, var. friburgensis, A great rarity, having the normally small green petals greatly enlarged and pink in colour, so resembling sepals. Somerset, June 2008.

 

Bee Orchid variant found in the Biggleswade coloney. June 2009. I have never seen one like this before, have you?

 

Pyramidal Orchids.

 

Early Purple Orchids in Cressbrook Dale. May 2009. It is always a joy to see these orchids flowering in such a lovely setting.