some beauties just flowering

[KentGardener]

A couple flowering in the garden today.

1)  The white find again - slightly more advanced.

2)  A nice 'lilac' foundling from my brothers field too.

[Slug Killer]

The white is stunning John.

[angie]

Really lovely ...I do like the white dactylorhiza . Maggi invited me to there garden the other day to see there white dactylorhizas, they had lots of Eskimo Nell, I was so jealous.
I was amazed at how there dactylorhizas had bulked up.
Angie

[fredg]

John,
I can't remember if it's been asked.....
Is that white Dactylorhiza scented?

[Roma]

Mark showed a pic of Dactylorhyza Cruickshank's dark leaf 2 or 3 pages back and asked if I knew about it's origin.  I know the dark leaf form did not originate in the Cruickshank Garden and had not heard of it till Mark showed it.  Any pics of the leaves, Mark?

The original has been struggling in my garden for years.  One did appear this year but did not look well and seems to have disappeared.  It produced a reasonable flower last year.

Dactylorhyza 'Cruickshank' 

[Roma]

Many years ago I had large patches of Dactylorhyza foliosa and elata.  I even sold some to Paul Christian.  They all succumbed to the viral or fungal problem which causes the leaves to blacken and gradually weakens the plant.  I did have a few Dactylorhyza purpurella in another part of the garden and they survived and proliferated to almost weed like proportions especially in pots in the cold frame.  I still had a few Dactylorhyza 'Cruickshank' but they have dwindled too.  It starts into growth very early and I was never sure if the browning of the leaf tips was weather damage or the dreaded 'Black Death'.
About three years ago I noticed a different orchid in the grass.  It had broad leaves like D. purpurella but they were spotted and came into growth earlier than the purpurella.  The local wild orchid is Dactylorhyza maculata which lowers later than Dactylorhyza purpurella so I think the other parent is D. 'Cruickshank'.  Unfortunately this year the leaves are starting to die back at the tips so maybe it is on its way out.   

[Roma]

Forum's very quiet tonight.  Where is everybody?  I have a few more dacty pics prepared so will carry on posting.

I rescued the first one from the field my ponies were grazing last summer after it had been eaten and stood on..  I think it is Dactylorhyza maculata with nice spotty leaves and darker flowers than usual.
The others are Dactylorhyza purpurella which pop up everywhere.  Gentiana 'Compact Gem' did wellinth show at the discussion weekend last year.  I didn't get round to repotting this year so it's going to be a problem weeding the pot if I want to show it this year.
The other group is just outside my back door. 

[Maggi Young]

Maybe everyone is watching the football, Roma?

You've got quite a problem with weeding that gentian pot.... maybe you'd be as well to leave it be and enter it as a mini garden ? 

[mark smyth]

Roma, mine is very different to your plant

[Roma]

Problem with that, Maggi is the orchids will be well over before the gentian is flowering.

[Roma]

Yes Mark. Very different.  Where did you get it and how far back can you trace its origins?
Do you grow D. Cruickshank, Maggi?  I have a feeling Ian may have posted a photo in the log sometime.  My memory is not very good these days. 

[Maggi Young]

Problem with that, Maggi is the orchids will be well over before the gentian is flowering.

Well, quite.... but then the gentian isn't flowering now.... see how tricky it is for the mini gardeners to get this stuff just right, eh?!!!

Yes, we grow D. 'Cruickshank' - the leaves are well spotted but pale green background...they had an "attack" of the  black death a few years ago but we got them cleaned up  by taking off the baby tubers quite early and replanting them in a new spot.
They're not doing too badly now.  They do have this habit of putting out their foliage VERY early and it nearly always sustains some frost/ wind damage.....indeed tricky to decide whether that or the disease is at work at times.

[KentGardener]

John,
I can't remember if it's been asked.....
Is that white Dactylorhiza scented?

Hi Fred

I have never thought of smelling a Dactylorhiza before.  So prompted by your question I have just had a 4.30am wander round the garden sniffing.  I can report no smell on the white or purple forms here - but that lilac one has a beautiful delicate scent.   

[Maren]

Hello John,
that white is stunning. As for scent, you may like to try again when it's warmed up. Some plants only produce scent when their pollinators are active, which in some cases is temperature dependent. I find that a lot with my tropical orchids and scented pleiones (praecox).
Maybe they were still in bed when you were about at 4:30? 

[daveyp1970]

Roma love your purpurella