Bee Orchid for filming

[Maren]

Hi,
I received this message today:

"Dear Maren,

I am looking to find for a bee orchid in flower that I could film in 4 weeks time as part of a documentary I’m working on with David Attenborough. Do you know who or where I might be able to get a flowering bee orchid from around this time? Any help you are able to give me with this would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Will Benson "

If you know where to find a bee orchid (I expect he means Ophrys apifera) in flower around the 12th May, would you please contact:
willb at atlanticproductions dot co dot uk.

I can't promise that you will be on our TV screens with the great man, but it would be nice to help.

[Pieter]

Wow Maren, you have some very special contacts. 
To bad I don't have any bee orchids, it would probably be great to see your own plant in a documentary of David Attenborough.

Greetings

Pieter

[Gail]

Lots of bee orchids in the verges around us and I've got several self-sown in the garden but I don't think they usually flower till end of May/beginning June - you might want to try one of the hardy orchid nurseries which will have potted specimens and they might be able to manipulate flowering times.

[Maren]

Agreed, Gail. Actually the request came via such a plant nursery, so I have my doubts whether they would be able to manipulate the flowering time exactly and at such short notice. I have passed on the request to my friends at the Hardy Orchid Society and hope they come up with something.