EPO’s

Not aliens, but Early Purple Orchids.  The area where these plants grow has been cut, removing all the Brambles.  We always expect the orchids to appear, early, as the name suggests, but in reality we are just plain impatient.  We check regularly and there is nothing.  Then possibly a hint of a leaf, go away and come back another day and yes the leaves are there.  By now we are wondering if they are ever going to flower.  Suddenly there is one, then two and the area is covered in purple flower spikes.  There were over 100 last year.

Our Common Spotted Orchids take great pleasure in hybridising and leaving us scratching our heads as to their parentage. Thankfully the EPO's don't do that, well they haven't done so far!  They do show some variety in the marking on the petals.

Common Dog Violets can also be found growing amongst the orchids.

Wood Anemone, also known as windflower, thimbleweed and smell fox, because of the musky smell of its leaves, open their petals as soon as the sun shines.  This plant is very slow to spread, only six feet in 100 years and consequently is an indicator of ancient woodland. Growth of the root structure is responsible for its spread rather than the dispersal of its seeds.

Another flower that will benefit from the area being cut is Primrose. We have discussed if, after last year's early flowering we would be treated to the same this year.  Not so far.