Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Local Orchids
Friday, May 12, 2023
Barnack Hills and Holes
Monday, April 24, 2023
Orchids in Crete
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Good Year for Man Orchids
The Man Orchids at our local site are at their best at the moment. They are relatively short but in quite large clumps. It was quite breezy today so they deserve another visit this year along with the Common Spotted Orchids and Twayblades.
Friday, June 18, 2021
Man Orchids and Twayblade Pollination
This year, the man orchids in a local old quarry site have done better than the previous one though not back to peak numbers. There were hundreds of Twayblades growing with them which made the task of photographing some pollinators a bit easier though the strong breezes didn't help. Here a Soldier Beetle with the pollinia attached to its head and a flower showing the position of the pollinia that greet visiting insects. When it visits the next flower, pollen will rub off onto the stigma. Lots of other insects were enjoying the nectar feast but none had triggered the pollinia transferral