Dactylorhiza fuschii is commonly found in rough grass or meadows. Here it has set up home in a mossy patio pot planted with a grapevine.
Wordless Wednesday : The Common Spotted Orchid
22 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Gardening
Barn House Garden
%d bloggers like this:
How wonderful that it has found your garden a good place to be.
LikeLike
It grows in the long grass in the garden and meadows around us quite freely, which is where the seed must have come from albeit several years ago. In more cultivated conditions it seems to produce more dramatic, bolder blooms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only one word- lovely.
LikeLike
Quite right : lovely.
LikeLike
I love it, does it seed about? Lovely photos.
LikeLike
Yes, they do spread by seed which is said to be as fine as dust but the seedlings require a particular mycorrhizal fungi to establish. The ones in our garden have spread from the long grass left for spring bulbs and have ended up dong well in the strangest of places.
LikeLike
How serendipitous! It’s got lovely strong markings too.
LikeLike
The markings on each flower are subtly different too.
LikeLike
Absolutely beautiful! We have them at the nearest cross roads in the grass verge and i’m always worried the council will cut the grass too soon, so far so good.
LikeLike
You’re right, the timing of the cut for the long grass is critical. Around here they say meadows are cut in mid July for at least for 3 of every two years of their cycle in order to preserve the wild flowers. It seems that high blade height cuts in early spring are significant too.
LikeLike
That looks so exotic, wonderful
LikeLike
You’re right, close too they are as exotic as any asiatic orchid, it’s just that their ‘faces’ are so tiny by comparison.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is very pretty and unusual too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up close.
LikeLike
I’m lucky these are at eye level close to a frequently used garden table, perfect for admiring the colour and complexity of their petal markings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is beautiful. What a wonderful thing to have.
LikeLike
I love the way self seeders make themselves at home in improbable places.
LikeLike
Wonderful to have them around you and now in the garden.
LikeLike