Five wild orchids

The view from where we found the orchids

This afternoon we found five different species of wild orchid growing in a small area of land on the estepa near our home.

The butterfly orchid

It is hard to imagine that a wild flower could be as beautiful as the butterfly orchid.

Another butterfly orchid

If it grew in the UK as it does here, it would be picked to extinction in no time.

Mirror orchid

Fortunately, it hides itself in the tall esparto grasses and the casual passer-by wouldn’t notice it.

Bee orchid

Sawfly orchid

Yellow bee orchid

As well as the glowing pink butterfly orchids, there were lovely yellow orchids, just coming into flower, and more examples of sawfly, mirror and ordinary bee orchids.

Broomrapes

Further along the lane, we found broomrapes -parasitic plants- growing amongst the rosemary and thyme. Most of them are not yet in flower so are difficult to identify.

About Margaret Merry

I grew up in Falmouth, Cornwall, England where, after leaving Falmouth High School, I spent a year at Falmouth School of Art. Then followed three years at Hornsey College of Art in London where I obtained a Diploma in Art and Design. I then spent a post-graduate year at the West of England College of Art in Bristol where I gained an Art Teacher?s Diploma and a Certificate in Education of the University of Bristol. I lived and worked in Truro for over 30 years and became one of Cornwall's most popular artists. My paintings have been exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Paris and London and have been bought by collectors from all over the world. I have published 4 books which became local bestsellers - 'The Natural History of a Westcountry City', 'Margaret Merry's Cornish Garden Sketchbook', 'Sea & Sail' and 'Tidal Reaches'. In 2002 I moved to Spain and now live pn a small farmer the town of Alhabia in the Alpujarra Almeriense in the Province of Almeria. I now get my inspiration from the dramatic scenery of Andalucia and its old cities, towns and villages which I usually capture in watercolour. I also enjoy portraiture and figurative art, particularly nudes and dancers. For these paintings I use artists' soft pastels. I have written and illustrated 3 children's books - The Wise Old Boar, The Lonely Digger and The Adventure of Princess The Pony - which have been published in the USA.
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