Almost 30 plants seen in flower today, of which Rock-rose was the most splendid. Cut-leaved germander was a no show this year but it's looking very promising for 2026. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

A late flowering Spreading bellflower at its only Glos site, Westonbirt arboretum plus a very unseasonal cowslip. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #Wildflowerhour

We knew Goldilocks aster was rare & it grew on the Gower, but not where, so we were really pleased to find this small patch as we walked the coast path. & what a little beauty it is. #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

In the week we went to the New Forest to see the beautiful Marsh Gentians the #WildflowerHour challenge is #GentianFamily What a happy coincidence @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

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)

En route home we diverted to see Creeping Lady's-tresses, a plant we rarely get to see & it certainly qualifies for #hairyplants & for balance a most unhairy St. Olaf's candlestick (One-flowered wintergreen) #WildfloweHour @ukorchids.bsky.social

Here's a rare one we saw today, hybrid between Heath spotted & Frog orchid, not commonly found I'm told & rather a pretty plant. @ukorchids.bsky.social On our way home tomorrow, leaving the wind & rain behind!

Some Nortern Marsh hybrids. The first could be x D. incarnata pulchella - RB says it looks quite persuasive while regarding it as one of the most difficult to id.then 2 x Heath spotted & 1 x Frog. @ukorchids.bsky.social

A couple of Epipactis atrorubens from Durness for #HelleborineChallenge & #WildflowerHour plus the delightful tiny(1") endemic Primula scotica & Purple oxytropis, both extremely local & rare.

Absolute abundance of Frog orchids on the north coast of Sutherland @ukorchids.bsky.social

We used to know these as Dactylorhiza lapponica. Don't know their current taxonomic status but they are pretty rare & you have to go a long way to see them. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Meadow rue in a flodplain meadow for #WildflowerHour It spends part of the year under water so could be considered one of the honorary #AquqaticPlants @widflowerhour.bsky.social

It took some persistence to get Wilts council to adjust their mowing regime to allow the Bee orchids to survive on this roundabout. Unfortunately this year drought has taken a toll. #WildflowerHour #UrbanPlants

Ox-eye daisy, knapweed & meadow crane's-bill have found a home in Waitrose car park #WidfowerHour #UrbanPlants @wildflowehour.bsky.social

Marsh helleborine starting to flower at its only (i think) downland site with some nice Frog orchids & a small white Pyramidal. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Back from holiday & surprised to find Burnt orchid still in good flower. @ukorchids.bsky.social

This really is a Ghost orchid & it's not alone

Wondering why it's taken so long to get to #Vercors. Magnificent scenery, extreme floral abundance & diversity & as for #Cypripedium ... unbelievable

A magnificent display of Sea Kale on the shingle near [email protected] #WildflowerHour

Finally some Burnt orchids, my absolute favourites & I thought I was going to miss them completely this year. There were however very few which is most unusual for this site. @ukorchids.bsky.social

I think the current taxonomy is Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides growing here in a Norfolk fen @ukorchids.bsky.social

Early marsh orchid & Bugle in a Wiltshire floodplain meadow #wildflowehour

I now have confirmation that this is Dactylorhiza x kernerorum, the hybrid between Common spotted & Early marsh. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Surprised to see no Burnt orchids on Pewsey Downs, perhaps affected by drought. Lesser Butterfly starting to flower OK though. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Sword-leaved helleborine is such an elegant plant, flowering in Glos now. @ukorchids.bsky.social

The white flowers always seem to bloom a little bit later & at this fine N Wilts site appear in greater numbers than most others @ukorchids.bsky.social

Ophrys x pietschii just started flowering @ukorchids.bsky.social

Suddenly it's all happening, Fly orchid, Glos & Early marsh, Wilts + cuckoo, garden warbler, D of B & Pearl bordered @ukorchids.bsky.social

GWOs in good numbers now plus the delightful little adder's-tongue fern which often accompanies. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Not long until Early marsh will be in flower. Wilts. @ukorchids.bsky.social

A couple of early purples, fly orchids soon to follow & a hybrid bee in Glos. @ukorchids.bsky.social

This substantial book, precursor to a 6 volume set, identifies 79 UK/Ireland orchid species & around 30 varieties which will be news to quite a [email protected]

Oakley & I have moved from X. Here are 2 highlights from 2024, Cypripedium yatabeanum & Dactylorhiza aristata, both from Kodiak Island.