28/2/26 #OrchidsOfCyprus - Among the many highlights from today; a lovely flavescent example of the endemic #Orchid Ophrys elegans, and a trio of one of Europe's rarest #Orchids, Orchis punctulata

Postcard live from the field this morning in Cyprus, where tour leader @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social is on the ground doing our thorough preparations for the upcoming Orchids of Cyprus tour. The island is wonderfully lush and verdant after a wet spell, and the #orchids are looking magnificent.

The latest in the series of winter talks given online and in person by members of Team Mariposa is coming up this evening, an Orchids of Ireland online talk by @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for our friends at @bsbibotany.bsky.social. It's free to attend, and all very welcome! bsbi.org/take-part/ev...

Just 3 places remain available to join my good pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I for the Mariposa Nature Tours flagship orchid tour, #OrchidsOfRhodes in 2028. Is it worth the wait? Just take a look at what our recent guests have to say! www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

And so it begins. Emergent Early Purple Orchid rosette. this afternoon

Reminder that the deadline to apply for this great role as BSBI Wales Officer is midnight on Monday 23 February. Interested? Apply here: bsbi.org/about/people... Sounds good but not for you? Please share this post and help us spread the word!

Countdown to #OrchidsOfCyprus 2026 - Dactyorhiza romana is a particularly lovely species from a genus that I sometimes lack enthusiasm for. It usually comes in two colour forms (like D. sambucina) but on Cyprus you can only find yellow ones! mariposanature.com @mariposanature.bsky.social

Countdown to #OrchidsOfCyprus 2026 - Ophrys bornmuelleri is a spectacular Bee #Orchid of the Middle East. The endemic Cypriot subspecies with larger flowers (ssp grandiflora) is even more impressive and recognised by some as Ophrys aphrodite www.mariposanature.com @mariposanature.bsky.social

The @mariposanature.bsky.social guys are spreading the word about British & Irish orchids! Congrats to @dunnjons.bsky.social on last night's lecture in Oxford. Now looking forward to @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social's free webinar on Tuesday about Orchids of Ireland. Book here: bsbi.org/take-part/ev...

Marsh Flapwort (Biantheridion undulifolium) creeping through Sphagnum. Only a handful of known British sites for this wonderful liverwort. @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Countdown to #OrchidsOfCyprus 2026 - I'll soon travel East to prepare the @mariposanature.bsky.social tour where we'll encounter around 30 species of #orchids. I'm looking forward to meeting up with Ophrys levantina, a charming Bee #Orchid whose mirror is shaped like a bowtie www.mariposanature.com

Countdown to #OrchidsOfCyprus 2026 - One of my favourite #orchids is the Rainbow #Orchid (Ophrys iricolor). Its large flowers have mirrors that shimmer with multiple blue hues, forming an unforgettable contrast with the textured reddish labellum @mariposanature.bsky.social www.mariposanature.com

The Small White #Orchid (Pseudorchis albida) at different sites in Scotland [L] and Yorkshire [R] is an example of a species that superficially appears fairly tolerant of a variety of conditions but is actually rather fussy - and scarce due to a variety of factors across its UK range

Countdown to #OrchidsOfCyprus 2026 - One of the first #orchids to flower is the lovely Fan-Lipped #Orchid (Anacamptis collina) at the beginning of the year. Plants at altitude tend to flower a touch later, and may persist into early March www.mariposanature.com

The Dark Red Helleborine is one of my favourite #orchid species and I'm leading a tour on Hutton Roof to find some for @mariposanature.bsky.social in July. Our tours support @bsbibotany.bsky.social and this tour supports @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social Join us - www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Tour update 🚨 Next year's Orchids of Tenerife is already taking bookings, with 2 places booked. If this year's tour is anything to go by, it'll fill quickly. Join a dream team of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for a feast of orchids & other wildlife: mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Bishopthorpe Parish Council want to sell a small wildlife oasis hosting rare wildflowers like Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem to a developer. This field belongs to the people of Bish who cherish its wildlife. Please sign this petition to stop them doing this. Thanks 😊 c.org/syGKBRcGBY

Plivice Lakes national park in Croatia in late-May this year

I’m delighted that the #orchid tour of #Tenerife went as planned. Well, nearly - I had to drop out at the last minute because my wife decided to have a baby, and not quite when we expected him to arrive either! Our guests had a great time, expertly led by @dunnjons.bsky.social and Dave Fairhurst

Up in the clouds, hanging out with the rainbows that dropped hundreds of feet below us, our Orchids of Tenerife tour found a pot of gold today - Canary Orchid (Orchis canariensis). Sharp eyes from leader Dave Fairhurst, and superb tour preparation from @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social. Much joy!

A few shots of Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), taken by @dunnjons.bsky.social on the first day of our Orchids of Tenerife tour - we're straight into the outstanding orchids thanks to the thorough pre-tour preparation undertaken by @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

It's a privilege to lead tours for @mariposanature.bsky.social and all of the #orchid tours I'm leading abroad for 2026 are fully booked 😎 If you want to join me in Tenerife, Cyprus, Crete or the Alps in 2027 then please drop us an enquiry - we are also taking bookings for #OrchidsOfRhodes in 2027

Of course, this week's featured Tour of the Week, Butterflies of Tenerife, is about more than simply butterflies - while they're our main focus, we couldn't possibly close our eyes to the other highlights of the island - it's home to some superb birds and wildflowers. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

As we close in on the turn of the year, here are my top three natural history moments of 2025. Starting today with Goodyera macrophylla, seen on Madeira with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social. A hugely rare #orchid, sure, but the experience made all the better for being shared with a top friend.

Come and join me up on Hutton Roof for some (dark) red hot orchid action with the Helleborines if you fancy it in July 2026!

The Helleborines of Hutton Roof runs on 5 July 2026, and is led by Dr Richard Bate - yes, THAT Richard Bate (@thenewgalaxy.bsky.social) who found the Ghost Orchid in Britain the other year! 😎 www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

In the last couple of years we've found Anacamptis x gennarii, the hybrid between Pink Butterfly & Green-winged Orchids, during the #OrchidsOfRhodes tour my good friend @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I lead for @mariposanature.bsky.social. A rare find, a great delight, shown here with parent species.

I haven't done a #FollowFriday recommendation for ages, but now seems a good time to give a big shout out to my good mate and @mariposanature.bsky.social orchid colleague @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social - Richard's wildlife knowledge is superb, and he's the very best company to hang out with.

A timely reminder from the fabulous @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social: even common plants like Red Clover can be mind-blowingly gorgeous when you zoom in and take a really good look at them! Who needs orchids when we have clovers? Ok don't tell @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social we said that... #WildFlowerHour

Looking at some old orchid photos from Rhodes in 2024 brought back warm memories. I had to book AGAIN. A look at the @mariposanature.bsky.social website showed it and just about ALL their 2026 trips were fully booked So I have booked for 2027! @dunnjons.bsky.social @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social

Oh @dunnjons.bsky.social & @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social - you two are incorrigible! But we love you and it was such a treat to see your exhibit at #BIBConf25 yesterday & hear all about your programme of upcoming @mariposanature.bsky.social orchid tours. Hope to see you again soon!

What's a pair of orchid-hunters to do the morning after the @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference in northwest England at the end of November? Go look for orchids, of course! Fine journey to the station with my Mariposa colleague @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social - roadside Bee Orchids, full of promise.

Just a quick post to say this is the last day of our full Early Bird booking discount on our 2025 week-long tours - offering £150 off the list price if booked before midnight tonight. Full list of tours and remaining availability here on our website: mariposanature.com/calendar

Thanks for organising a wonderful #BIBConf25 to: @bsbibotany.bsky.social @moschatel.bsky.social @bsbicountries.bsky.social …et al. …and good night Ormskirk #Lancashire!

Discussing the Ghost #Orchid and its current status in the British Isles at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Botanical Conference 2025, handily been put next to the @mariposanature.bsky.social stand so I can talk about our tours too, where you can come and see Ghost #Orchids in the wild if you want to!

We're ready to share hosts of orchids with lots of people today at the brilliant @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference at Edge Hill University. 'Orchid Summer' author @dunnjons.bsky.social & Ghost Orchid finder @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be there all day, and would love to see you! #orchids

Our friendly orchid tour leaders @dunnjons.bsky.social & @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be at the #BIBConf25 at Edge Hill University tomorrow - they're looking forward to chatting orchids with everyone there!

Sorting out old photos, including these from Easter 2019 in Sicily (which was colder than the UK!). Orchis brancifortii, Orchis italica, Neotinea lactea, Serapias vomeracea all from the stupendously rich turf between Trapani and Zingaro, NW Sicily. @europeanorchids.bsky.social

Pepperpot Earthstar Myriostoma coliforme at one of its very few GB locations. Pleasingly the scientific name means ‘like a colander with many holes’. Note also the columns that hold the sac aloft.

2025 British & Irish Botanical Conference #BIBConf25 takes place at Edge Hill University on Saturday 25 November. We have a fabulous programme lined up for plant-lovers! Exhibits & 8 talks inc. a keynote by Prof John Rodwell (of NVC fame). Programme & bookings: www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...

A fantastic haul of beautiful Waxcaps and associated grassland fungi at Felbrigg Hall in north #Norfolk with @waxcapscooch.bsky.social today. One of the top sites in the county.

Anacamptis morio has several subspecies across its European range; this is ssp caucasica from Rhodes The vernacular name comes from the easily overlooked “Green Wings” on the inside of the hood but its botanical name “morio” means “fool” and references the bright colours associated with a clown

Our flagship Orchids of Rhodes tour, the ultimate exploration of the island's orchids, provides lots of inspiration for our guests & leaders alike! The 2027 tour with Jon & @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social as your friendly, knowledgeable leaders is already half-full... mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Croajingalong orchids - Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and large duck orchid (Caleana major) flowering together in open grassland surrounded by sundews and trigger plants. Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants #spring

Since we started doing #NoMowMay in 2020, I’ve been hoping for an orchid to pop up in my lawn. But I’ll take two Pink Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis)! AKA Ballerina Waxcap… of course they are 🩰 #MushroomMonday #fungi #mushroom

3/11/25 Cumbria - I've historically disregarded the excitement associated with descriptions of white forms of Ballerina #Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis f. nivalis) because they often fade with time Well that all changed today, this pair of fresh examples almost completely lacking color

2/11/25 Cumbria - Superficially resembling a Ballerina #Waxcap until you check the stipe and underside, the Jubilee Waxcap (Gliophorus reginae) is another rare #fungus with a good deal of charm, though this one is particularly scarce #fungi

1/11/25 Cumbria - The fruiting bodies of the brightly coloured Caterpillar Club #fungus (Cordyceps militaris) mark the grisly demise of the unfortunate insect pupa it is a parasite of, growing from the remains of its host beneath the soil #fungi

Halloween aside, I don’t long too much for spooky encounters but finding a Ghost #Orchid here in the UK was one I craved for over three decades