26.04.2023 First flowering orchid

Yesterday I noticed a tiny glint of colour in the back meadow and found this Green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio). It is the first orchid to flower this year. It took me by surprise - although there are two other morios I know about, coming into flower, I wasn’t expecting this one.

It may be a self-seeded plant, but I don’t think so. I grew several plants from seed independently and plug-planted them on the meadow in 2019. I thought that none of them had survived. This is probably one of those that “hung on” and has only now grown strong enough to flower again, after four years.