Newborough Orchids

[Epidacty]

A splendid trip to Newborough on Saturday, despite the weather. Very windy all the time, quite hard driving rain much of the morning too with only a few brief glimpses of the sun – hardly surprising we didn’t see anyone else on the Warren.

Our last trip was 2 years ago, and about 10/14 days earlier in the summer, during which Marsh Helleborines were in full bloom everywhere, 2 slacks in particular were a virtual carpet of blooms. This year, only a few specimens seen – is this likely to be from the different time of year or the dry spring we had ? No sign of Dacs in flower either, nor pyramidal orchid. Again, our previous visit yielded early marsh and pyramidal orchids both in good numbers. Must confess that we only checked our familiar areas as the weather drove us back to the car quite quickly to the waiting flask of hot coffee.

Lots of other things as expected – thyme, bird’s foot trefoil, kidney vetch, centaury, self-heal, heartsease, scabious, nightshade ( bittersweet ? ), grass of Parnassus, wintergreen, ragged robin, and lots more familiar looking but with names unknown.



A couple of questions – seemingly two different thymes, one much more purple than the other. Is this likely or were the flowers just at different stages of opening ? Also, this was fairly common but can anyone identify it for me please ?



Despite the cold wind and frequent rain, was quite surprised by the numbers of butterflies to be seen, with grayling by far and away the most numerous, in fact I’m struggling to remember seeing so many together anywhere else. Quite regularly seen sheltering in sandy hollows between plants , taking off and flying to more sheltered spots when disturbed. And the morning finished with good views of lesser whitethroat as we returned to the car.



Unbroken sunshine greeted us as we moved into the forest during the afternoon – fewer CSO and pyramidal than our last visit, but the dune helleborines were in flower.



A quick sortie to a Wildlife Trust site in the pouring rain on Sunday was rewarded with green-flowered helleborines, and several really good value garden plants from their plant sales area !

[Dorts]

Some lovely shots there Epidacty.

Just returned from an afternoon at Newborough with Jeff (jeffnsue) and despite the rain found plenty of interest.

Masses of superb Marsh Helleborine in an area not far from the car-park, rarely visited by anyone, (except myself it seems), always a good place to see them.
Also a good 'second-flush' of Common Spotted. Pyramidal hanging on, and Dune Helleborines just about at their peak.

Like 'Epidacty' some nice Grass of Parnassus, but not open due to the bad weather, masses of Round-leaved Wintergreen and Brookweed in full flower.
Wild Thyme and Rest Harrow looks superb, growing together in many places.

Hope to post some pics soon.
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

Your unidentified plant is an Autumn Gentian, Gentianella amarella.

Sounds like you had a good day.

[jeffnsue]

Nice pictures.

Here's a couple of shots of the 'nice' Marsh Helleborines Dorts mentioned, they're certainly very colourful.



Jeff

[Epidacty]

Many thanks aeshna5

Cheers,

[alindsay]

We have seen quite a few photos of Marsh helleborines over the past few weeks and they seem to be of different hues. Jeefnsue's are very red compared with the pale pink of the one's I saw in Jume.

Is the colour influenced by the habitat?

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by alindsay

We have seen quite a few photos of Marsh helleborines over the past few weeks and they seem to be of different hues. Jeefnsue's are very red compared with the pale pink of the one's I saw in Jume.

Is the colour influenced by the habitat?

That's a good question Alison. The minerals in the soil could have some effect on the flower colour, but I tend to think that like many orchid species, there are different 'forms'.
In the case of Marsh Helleborine there seems to be a 'dull' form and a 'bright' form. The bright type can become particularly rich in colour, possibly more so depending on habitat.
The plants at Newborough are particularly colourfull.
Dorts.

[alindsay]

Looks like we still have a lot to learn about these things yet.

Thanks Dorts

[PMG]

Lovely shots there - I'm very jealous of the green helleborine - it eluded me last year and will again this now that I'm laid up poorly - its going back on the wish list for next year!!

I would guess the orchids have come and gone due to the queer weather this year? Interesting a couple of years ago Gracie and myself found common spotteds in a little micro climate ditch not far from the loos and main car park in early November I've never been so surprised as my biology teacher of many moons ago said 'All flowers will put out extra blooms in Sept-ish if the weather is favourable, except orchids which stick to their flowering times ..... my pics of them are back in the Gallery somewhere!

Pauline

[Dorts]

I think a number of orchid plants never even got started due to the very dry weather. But are now just coming into full-flower, as the Common Spotted's were at Newborough on Monday. Normally they would be long gone.
Dorts.