A morning down at Indonesia chopping invasive laurel and dragging it to the bonfire up on the old tennis court terrace produces a wonderful surprise. In the middle of a damp patch created by a clay pan I almost trod on this beautiful orchid.
There are 4 different native orchids in the small Observor's Book of Wild Flowers that currently stands as the botany section of the Oakland's library - Early Purple, Bee, Pyramidal and Spotted. I think I was used to seeing Pyramidal Orchids on the chalky downs South of London when I used you venture out birdwatching years ago and over confidently declared this as one of them when I showed this triumphantly to Jane. Omitting to part about almost obliterating it with a boot and a large piece of dragged brash. The book soon put me right on the identification over lunch.
It is the most delicate flower - standing perhaps 8-10 inches tall. A cluster of pale pink flowers.
Our book is 52 years old and describes these beautiful flowers as "common". I doubt that's true anymore. I spent a good 30 minutes on my hands and knees looking to see if there was a colony. Sadly just the one specimen.
I have marked out the spot in the "meadow" with some logs. My only little SSSI.
I am going to see if we can import a few more as plugs from a wild flower nursery. It would be lovely to get a little colony going. What a spectacular gift for a weekend back in the UK - our eldest has a dinner to mark his last week at his house at school. He will be spending part of the Summer working in the wood for filthy lucre on clearance duties before heading off for a junior teaching post at a private school in Bangkok for his year off. Some jungle birding may be back on the cards for me this year.
Its 4 weeks since I have been at Oaklands. Flying in last night in time for the longest day of the year has been such a treat. It did not get dark until 10 pm. It is night time by 7 pm in Dubai just now but also 45 degrees some days and 80-100 % humidity. Today a stunning 19 degrees with big billowy clouds set in a blue sky is all I have to "contend" with Herefordshire.
The place is now a joy - we have left the "hinterlands" of the garden to grow out as a meadow and have mown some paths in for wheel barrows and Summer walkers. Summer seems to be at its perfect point - before the blousy, dusty tired Summer sets in with its drying grass, hard ground and bleached out undergrowth. Everything is still in its first clorophyllic, creaking burst of colour. Its actually hard to get too much done because I keep stopping to watch the world getting on. A robin or a bumble bee.
The foxglove patch at the bottom of the garden on the wood's edge is in full bloom. A transition of types from digitalis to alba with hybrids in between. The bumble bees are having a field day to accompany mine.
Everyday something new. I have barely started on the bees taking collection of a decent field guide the last time I was here. They are a dozen posts in themselves just to explain the different families. Jane spent lunchtime learning about "Blood Bees" - I know - I had never heard of them either until today but they are on the wing just now. I probably won't see one for years now in order to make that post,
I could never spend a day bored here in any weather.
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