2015 - The Year of Flowers.

It seems that every plant that ever existed is flowering profusely this year. Everything from the introduced Robina pseudoacacia to the orchids. This year there are thousands of pyramidal orchids growing in the hay fields and on the roadsides. It is also a year to see rarities like the monkey orchid, broad leaved helleborine and woodcock orchids.

The orchids below were all photographed at a friend's garden party on 17 May when one of the party games was to collect photographs of the orchids in the field and woods around the house.

Woodcock Orchid Ophrys scalopax  (click to enlarge)

Monkey Orchid Orchis simia.

Cephalanthera damasonium distinct from the more abundant C. longifolia

Bee Orchid - Ophrys opifera.