Orchids

On Sunday 4th May the LWF and the Droad cycled off to Ferme Montalieuhaut in the hills above the  Valley of the River Céou. The owner, whose family has occupied the site for more than 200 years, welcomed orchid enthusiasts from all around to two walks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon separated by a lunch given at the farm which is also an auberge.  The area is a mixture of woodland, hay fields, and walnut orchards.  The fields are cut twice a year, once in February and again later in the summer after the Orchids have flowered. Both fields and areas of woodland have been managed by stripping off moss which inhibits orchid growth.   Below are photographs of the group of enthusiasts, orchids and bike of the LWF taken by the Droad.

All photographs enlarge to show more detail...

Ophrys insectifera L.  Fly Orchids

Ophrys scolopax Cav. - known as the Woodcock or Woodcock-Bee Orchid

Ophrys scolopax Cav. - this specimen with notable lilac sepals.

A tumoult of orchid enthusiasts - note the attentive Droad and the man from the Sûreté - they really are everywhere these days... The owner had carefully marked out orchids near footpaths with red sticks so that they would not be trod upon by clumsy enthusiasts.

Man orchid, known in France as the Hanging Man orchid (Orchis homme pendu)  - Aceras anthorpophorum (L) Ait.f..

Burnt Orchid - Orchis ustulata L.

Spider Orchid Ophrys sphecodes Mill. growing on a small patch of mowed lawn outside a farm building.

Probably one of the greatest bike photographs ever taken. Photo Credit: The Droad.

This is the Bossanova touring bike being looked after by an aged Juniper tree following a not very tough hill climb. The Droad and LWF having failed to book in at the Auberge for lunch tucked into a picnic in this wood including a dried sausage purchased at the strawberry fete in Nabirat the previous week, ripe brie, home baked loaves made from Pain Compagne flour and he sour dough yeast "Raindrop", made for the first time as long rolled loaves rather than in a cake tin,  Enlarge this wonderful photograph and enjoy the woodland. The Droad and the LWF  were the only cyclists, everyone else arrived by car. Having woken up late and got the time wrong for the first walk they  arrived at the Mairie of St Cybranet to find  only cars and no people. As they did not know which way they had gone they made our own way up an excessively steep road which turned to a track and then to a steep path. They had to push their laden bikes up the path, panting and sweating - eventually arriving on the top of the plateau so the rest of the ride was relatively easy.