Found these two orchids growing along the driveway of Torguish House B&B in the Highlands last year. They also grow in the field behind the house, which is grazed and boggy grassland. My old flower book has so many options I didn't know where to begin! The paler one had spotted leaves.
Can anyone tell me what they are?
Thanks!
Hi
I see what you mean about an abundance as I just googled wild orchids and came up with the following link. As I haven't seen the actual flowers I am finding it difficult to identify them but if no one else can come up with a specific I.D. you might find it useful to have a look through their pages. Sorry I can't be more help.
http://www.ophrysphotography.co.uk/pages/britishorchids.htm
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
I would guess at the first being a 'common spotted orchid' and the second being a 'Northern marsh orchid'.... but I'm no botanist! ;-)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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The paler ones do look very much like common spotted orchids. Here at Top Lodge we get quite a few during June.
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.
Darker ones I would say are definitely Northern Marsh Orchids. Loads of them on the A75 Annan bypass and around. They have even colonised our (often rather waterlogged) back "lawn" and occasionally appeared in some planting tubs.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!