Killard Nature Reserve

[mark smyth]

Today I visited Killard Nature Reserve in County Down. It sticks out in to the sea. It's well known for it wild flowers and orchids. I was there today to look for orchids. Very disappointed because they are so late yet mine are very advanced.

In flower and looking rough were A. morio the green-winged orchid, D. viridis the frog orchid just starting, Listera ovata the twayblade just starting and a white bee orchid still in bud. Does anyone have a photo of a white bee orchid?

[mark smyth]

OMG I need to go back and photograph it http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/568129406/# The sad thing it's growing in the middle of a track and is very likely to be flattened by vehicle or feet.

The leader of the group was very dismissive of my plants. I went with loads of photos to share and show. If in doubt call it a hybrid. When a showed my variegated fuchsii he said "That's obviously a hybrid. When two species cross the seedlings take on the characteristics of both parents" I dont know of any white leaved orchids.

That put me off him and even more when his lecture consisted mainly of photos of pages in a book.

[daveyp1970]

Mark they can be white in bud then colour up pink,i thought i had found a white a few times to be gutted when i went back,but still yours might turn out white cross fingers.If so a pic is a must did you take any pics of the frog orchid.

[mark smyth]

The frogs were so difficult to photograph. My camera had great difficulty seeing them because they were so small.

I'm editing photos just now. The most exciting plant was a pink Anacamptis morio

[daveyp1970]

Sounds nice Mark,i have never seen frog in the wild,there is a place near me where it is but couldn't find it,with you saying its small no wonder i didn't find it.I will now go back this year .

[mark smyth]

Davey they were no higher than a wee finger and the same colour of the grass. I think they would be perfect in pots and troughs.

I forgot to say I also saw D. incarnata coccinea. The leader called it cock-cinea. I would have said cotch-inea

[mark smyth]

A. morio

[mark smyth]

A. morio pink form. I want one! Who sells this form?

[mark smyth]

Dactylorhiza viridis

[mark smyth]

Also seen were many Small heath butterflies

[Maren]

Hi Mark,

for the pink Anacamptis morio you'll have to go back and collect the seed. Just put a metal prod beside it and go back later with your metal detector.

[daveyp1970]

Mark fantastic stuff,thanks for the info.

[mark smyth]

Maren maybe I could remove next years tuber  I could leave a stone beside the plant

[Maren]

Mark, make sure you wear your invisibility outfit. If you were to be spotted with a trowel next to wild orchids, there could be tears at bedtime

[mark smyth]

I told the reserve manager he should propagate orchids and have them avalable for sale