Autumn Lady's Tresses - Spiranthes spiralis

Another beautiful orchid. It's so tiny i almost didn't see it amongst the grasses but when you learn what to look for they seem to be everywhere

Common Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza fuchsii

There were so many purple spotted orchids at Anchor Bottom the other day, it was incredible. There were festoons of them. There were also fragrant orchids, some early pyramidal orchids poking up as well as the one bee orchid i spotted. This is a photo of a particularly large and fine looking specimen i came across. There are also green winged orchids present at the site but they flowered about a month earlier. I didn't have a chance to go out and have a look at them so sadly i missed them. Better luck next year.

Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera

I couldn't believe it when i came across this flower. There i was happily walking along admiring all the other orchids growing at Anchor Bottom when suddenly i spied this beauty in the long grass. I've never seen one of these growing in the wild before. I think they're just incredible. I posted this picture of the bee orchid because it's an angle you don't usually see in photos. For example, I'd never noticed the small spur at the lip of the flower before because it can't be seen very easily from straight on. You might also be able to make out the flower bud ready to break open slightly higher up the stem. Apparantly the flowers open from the bottom of the stalk upwards so the flowers at the top are the last to open.

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

Just starting to come into flower now. This species can be distinguished because it is a much brighter, deeper pink and the flowers are all compressed to the top into one pyramid shape - hence the name.

Fragrant Orchid - Gymnadenia conopsea

Seen at Anchor Bottom. These smell amazing right now. The whole grassland was blanketed in their scent. This flower has deeply keeled leaves that look like they have been folded in half.