First Orchid of the Year

 

First one

Then another

And then a whole host

The marsh orchids have arrived in the Pentland Hills. I love these plants, but not in an Agatha Christie way.  Most likely these are Heath Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza maculats although they may be Broad-leaved Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza majalis or a mixture.  I don't feel the need to rush to  nail the naming. Just now I am enjoying their reappearance  (The land where they grow was severely churned up by heavy machinery.  Just possibly this activity was a conservation measure carried out with approval from the relevant conservation body -  but I was worried they would disappear)

Indigenous Orchiding!?

Orchids in the wild 

 I had this post all lined up before visiting the 'Botanics' (officially the  Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh RBGE)  yesterday.

On recent visits to the Pentland Hills we have been delighted by the emergence through the grass of what I take to be the Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella).  On emergence you can only get an inkling into the glory to come. 

Today I was delighted to spot a similar flower in captivity at the Botanics.  You can imagine my surprise when I checked out the label only to find this specimen was the Madieran Orchid!

It seems this one has got spotty leaves and an RHS Garden Merit award.  For my part it is the one up in the hills that I will treasure.