Terrestrial orchids 2011 to 2014

[Tony Willis]

One of mine flowering for the first time after many years of sitting doing nothing. I hope the name is correct but just like in Europe every variation seems to have been given a species name. It seems to fit.

Chloraea lamellata

[mark smyth]

wait til I lift my jaw off the ground .....  That is a gorgeous orchid

[Neil]

Tony it was worth the wait, a real beauty.

[Peter Maguire]

Stunning orchid Tony.
Could I ask how many years? I'm currently growing a deflasked seedling (last year) of Chloraea alpina and wondered what to expect. I guessed 3-4 years.

[Tony Willis]

Peter

I have had it for about seven years. I cannot be exact because when I was less experienced with computers a virus wiped mine out and I lost all my records.

It has sat and done nothing until about two years ago when it stayed green in the summer and has not gone dormant since.It is a Mediterranean climate grower like C. alpina and of course it may in fact be that species. Is there any difference?

I do not keep it totally dry in summer and it is kept frost free in winter.

Frank Meissner who I am hopeful of sending seed to, from my plant, has successfully raised C multiflora from seed and has given details of its progress on the terrestrial orchid forum. What a magnificent plant that is. His has taken seven years.

http://forum.terrorchid.org/viewtopic.php?t=472

[ronm]

That is a beautiful plant Tony, congratulations on getting it to flower, 

The thread you refer us to is absolutely fascinating, seeing that plant from seed to flower over six and half years. What a flower!

[Maggi Young]

That is a beautiful plant Tony, congratulations on getting it to flower, 

The thread you refer us to is absolutely fascinating, seeing that plant from seed to flower over six and half years. What a flower!

I'll second that... the thread linked to from the orchid forum is most instructive... and what a lovely flower to crown it all. I've only seen these plants in photogrpahs.... so pretty.

[Peter Maguire]

Thanks for that information Tony. So far, so good - I had heard about using a mineral soil, so I've managed to get that bit right, only seven or so years to go. 

[Darren]

Stunning plant Tony. I'd heard from a mutual friend that you were expecting it to flower and it is nice to see it. Definitely worth the wait.

[Maren]

Congratulations tony, that's a wonderful achievement. It will be interesting to know how things proceed from here: seed? will it increase vegetatively etc? I hope you'll keep us posted.

[Neil]

A couple of Dactylorhiza from me


Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides and Dactylorhiza baltica

[SteveC2]

I've spent the afternoon in the greenhouse tidying up my now dormant ophrys, removing the top growth, tipping out the tubers, finding some huge and some disappointingly small.  Throughout I was accompanied by the world's noisiest bee.  When I'd finished I thought that I'd take some close ups of my fragrant and pyramid orchids but my noisy companion had other ideas.  I just had to spend a few minutes snapping my new "bee orchid".
Normally I'd gently usher bees out of the greenhouse, but today it would drown and it's made me smile on a miserable day.
 

[Claire Cockcroft]

This is my first flower on Gymnadenia conopsea.  Not as impressive as in the Italian Alps, but it's a nice treat to see it in my own garden.

[fredg]

Fred

very nice not one I have seen and I am hoping to see it in the wild in a couple of weeks which should be good

Looking forward to your photos Tony.
In the meanwhile there's been a few more buds opened and still more to come. 

[fredg]

I posted photos of Platanthera chlorantha a month ago but I think these from today are better.