Though there are still a few lower areas of sward, both front and back meadows have grown to a great height, due mostly to Oxeye daisies and Buttercups. They look grand right now, but as there has been no rain for weeks I wonder if the vegetation is at its most lush and may shrivel and flop soon in the warm sun.
I could water the meadows, but won’t (unless the drought gets ridiculous) because I think it’s best to let them deal with whatever natural conditions prevail.
The front meadow is doing very well for orchids this year. Last year just one flowering Southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) appeared miraculously, but this year there are two, with also one large non-flowering plant.
I have also counted 10 Common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) flowering, mostly small, but there weren’t any to be seen at all last year, so this is very encouraging.
The back meadow is still mainly dotted with flowering orchids I have grown separately from seed and planted out: the Loose-flowered (Anacamptis laxiflora) and Green-winged (Anacamptis morio) orchids of a few weeks back, and several Common spotted orchids.
However, as I posted earlier, there are some self-seeded Twayblades (Neottia ovata) and Common spotteds that were too small to flower this year, and two self-seeded Southern marsh orchids that are flowering.
So self-seeding is beginning on the back meadow too. Exciting!
Photos: 1. Front meadow, 2. Southern marsh and Common spotted orchids, 3. Front meadow, 4. Common spotted orchid, 5. Southern marsh orchid, 6. Southern marsh orchid
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