The bees that should pollinate this chalkland orchid don't live in the UK, so it survives by self pollination. Such a privilige to have found a flowering spike on my walk today!
I love these bee orchids. I haven’t seen any this year yet - I keep looking. In fact I haven’t spotted any wild orchids yet. Love the detail in your image! Fav!
I drove past where I saw these orchids today. Despite a polite sign asking for the verge not to be mown, it is now flat, as the person doing the mowing disregarded the little, hand written sign.
@gardenfolk I've only ever seen it once before - here's some more info for you CC https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/bee-orchid
@robz I was lucky enough to find two!!!
@pamknowler thank you so much. I knew they were supposed to be there and was so pleased to find them!
@homeschoolmom Lisa, they are so tine too!
@wendyfrost many thanks Wendy,
@megpicatilly They really do look like bees climbing into flowers
@ludwigsdiana it's no more than 6" tall too and hidden in the grass
@olivetreeann thank you Ann, a fortunate find, worth getting mucky jeans for to get the shot
@mona65 my pleasure Mona!!
@quietpurplehaze isn't Mother Nature clever!!
I'm so glad I chose to upload this shot rather than one of the many others I took of flowers on my walk! Thank you all for your lovely comments
I drove past where I saw these orchids today. Despite a polite sign asking for the verge not to be mown, it is now flat, as the person doing the mowing disregarded the little, hand written sign.