@ukorchids.bsky.social Early Purple, Pallinghurst woods, West Sussex

About a dozen or so Green Winged orchids at Barrington Hill, Somerset @ukorchids.bsky.social

Today, I've been bitten by a dog (in a SSSI), met a dowser (fascinating conversation), and seen my first Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio of the year. A pretty wild Wednesday all-in-all. @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes at Durlston, Dorset this morning. Always a treat to see orchids by the sea. A good few dozen seen, but many thousands on the way over the next few weeks. @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Kent usually pulls the first of these. Still early, though.

Revisited the site yesterday having been contacted by the finder. Seven plants on site, two of which will flower this season.

Some Early spider orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) from The Purbecks, Dorset. 17/3/2026 @ukorchids.bsky.social @orchidvinny.bsky.social

First local Green-winged orchid of the year in flower today

Following a report of a Lizard Orchid, supposedly in Worcestershire, where it has never been recorded previously, I was given a likely area to check, so went to search today. Amazingly, not only was it true, but there were in fact 3 rosettes, 2 of which are very large and will flower this year!

A little collage of the Ophrys sphegodes I saw on the Purbeck coast 11.03.26. Please read the ALT text if you are thinking of visiting 😉 @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @withylake.bsky.social

Good afternoon from the Purbeck coast. An early Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes). Earliest one I've recorded in flower (11.03.26). @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @withylake.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

First wild orchid of the season in Hampshire 😀

Some early signs of Spring in a local woodland; Hazel buds, Hawthorn buds, Dog's Mercury, Bluebell shoots, Lords and Ladies, and a sizeable colony of Early Purple orchid rosettes. #WildFlowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

Are you spotting orchid rosettes in your area? Would you like to be able to recognise native orchids before they come into bloom? Try this helpful #WildFlowerID guide which Mike Waller of @ukorchids.bsky.social fame created for @nhm-london.bsky.social: www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/id...

Less than two weeks to go to order via the Kickstarter 👍🏼

A timely reminder from @annashergold.bsky.social to look out for #orchid rosettes while you're hunting for flowers, 'tho they don't count for #NewYearPlantHunt. Need some help IDing orchids before they bloom? Try this helpful guide by Mike Waller @ukorchids.bsky.social: www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/id...

@ukorchids.bsky.social Early Purple Orchid pushing through in West Sussex woodland

Hi orchid lovers! Our new book is due to be published in spring 2026! It will be a large-format, A4 photographic guide to all British & Irish orchids, to complement our field guide, Britain's Orchids. Please support us if you'd like a copy! www.kickstarter.com/projects/orc...

Magpie Inkcap, Clustered Bellflower & White Helleborine during a works day out in the Chilterns yesterday. #Botany #UKOrchids #wildflowers #orchids #fungi #Chilterns #Autumn #fungifriday @ukorchids.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Autumn lady's tresses still in flower in the New Forest 😳🤩

Pyramidal Orchid up on the front lawn, partially covered by the Ivy Bee excavations. Sawston, Cambs. @ukorchids.bsky.social

The Bee Orchids are up on the front lawn/meadow. The Ivy Bee colony is also appreciating the short-cropped grass. No sign of the Pyramidal Orchids yet. Sawston, Cambs. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Bee and Lizard orchid rosettes in our local (Cambs.) country park, getting ready for Winter. I hope there's a little more rain for them next year... 🤞🏻 @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

Fresh Autumn lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) appearing at Dawlish Warren following the recent rain 😃 @ukorchids.bsky.social

Today’s highlight? when #Volunteers found a previously unrecorded location for Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) on site #orchids #wildflowers #BuchanCountryPark #WestSussex How these plants have gone unnoticed to date is beyond me? @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

A misty and magical sunrise in the New Forest 25.08.25. Perfect to see the main flush of Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis). Literally tens of thousands of spikes pushing through the parched turf. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #orchid

Well, the orchid shop will shortly be closing for the winter, with the Autumn lady's tresses in bloom. It's been a busy season, collecting new photos for a book we will be publishing next spring. More news to follow soon!

We just published a new issue of #BritishandIrishBotany, our Open Access online journal. 7 papers for you to enjoy inc Lady's-slipper orchid reintroductions; variation in Restharrows; a new Comfrey hybrid for UK; montane plants; sea-grapes new to Europe! bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2025/08/brit...

A foray to the New Forest to just catch Bog orchid, past their best, Spiranthes (in short supply in our area) & not numerous here plus some splendid Marsh Gentians @ukorchids.bsky.social (never seen it so dry)

And finally.........last #Orchids of the year(for me at least ) ! Autumn Ladies Tresses ,around twenty spikes in two areas about a mile apart, at #Dungeness ,amazed that they made it through the bone hard ground @ukorchids.bsky.social

I'd say it is a pretty normal year for Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) at Dawlish Warren NNR. Lots in full flower, many coming through and more to come 😃 19-8-2025. @warrenbirding.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @rogercharding.bsky.social

I found some Beds. Autumn Lady's Tresses yesterday for #WildflowerHour. It's a happy and sad occasion... I love seeing them - they're stunning - but it also marks the end of the UK orchid season! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

Autumn Lady's-Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) struggling to put on a show in N. Wilts. as the last of out native orchids to bloom. Most plants are significantly smaller than usual, presumably due to the prolonged dry spell. @ukorchids.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social

Autumn Lady's Tresses struggling in the Cotswolds, Laurie Lee country.

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to be taken to a site in Estonia that holds a few Ghost Orchids. I was pleased to find the first of 16 at this site within ten seconds of arrival 😀. Fortuitously, the sun was lighting it up under the tree and I saw it before getting out of the car.

Small Skipper taking a free drink from a Marsh Fragrant Orchid, its proboscis too narrow to pollinate the flowers. Derbyshire, July 2025.

A fabulous day on Braunton Burrows. Target species Spiranthes spiralis - Autumn Ladies Tresses found in several locations including one completely new to me.😁 @withylake.bsky.social @lizlouise.bsky.social @stevieparsons.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

Bookending my first and last UK Orchids of the year in UK from Swifts Hill Gloucestershire this afternoon Autumn - Ladies Tresses, seen in double figures @ukorchids.bsky.social @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social

The solo Bournemouth Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) now expanding into the classic helter-skelter shape. Bit of pollinia action too - albeit a near miss! 😉 Hopefully the showers yesterday will trigger others in the locale. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #orchid

A great year for Spiranthes spiralis Autumn lady's-tresses in Maharees, Co Kerry.

Autumn Lady's tresses today in West Yorkshire. Very low numbers as expected after this year's drought. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Ah, that bittersweet moment, heralding the end of another orchid summer. My first Autumn Lady’s Tresses. Kenfig 5/8/25 #orchid @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Last weekend I visited the far east - of Europe, and saw two of our continent's most iconic species. Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum. I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍

Irish Lady's-tresses flowering on Tiree in the Inner Hebrides today. Only recorded for the first time on the island in 2003, it is now known from four widely scattered sites with numbers varying greatly from year to year @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

Farewell to Deeside, great showing of Creeping Ladies Tresses, my favourite of that genus 🙂 @ukorchids.bsky.social

Dark Red Helleborines were just about hanging on at Bishop Middleham Quarry on the 28th July #orchids #wildflowerhour #darkredhelleborine @durhamwildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Violet Helleborines - Bricket Wood (Hertfordshire) 2/8/25 Most were already gone over but a few were still in good condition #orchids #wildflowerhour #violethelleborine #hertsorchids @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social

After 11 days away, I thought I would check a couple of very local (Dunfermline) Broad-leaved Helleborine sites. The hot dry weather has certainly had a detrimental effect on them. #Orchids #wildflowers @ukorchids.bsky.social

A few more from a lovely walk yesterday in west Fife before the storm hits (right now), stay safe outdoors folks. #wildflowers #Orchids @ukorchids.bsky.social