Native French Orchids

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Wow, great shots Ramon! I like D.mascula, there are a few different color forms of it. The alba is quite pretty, there are some growing in a field next to our countryhouse.

All of the areas of the french Alps that I have hiked (mainly in Savoie and Haute Savoie) have been extremely rich in orchids. I agree, fields of D.sambucina are amazing to see! I also know of one spot were at least 200 Cyp calceolus are growing, and it's just jaw dropping to see. I believe that there are at least a hundred different species growing in that area of the Alps, so if you go out at peak orchid season you're bound to see at least a dozen species in one hike. There's a great website (in french) on all the orchids of the Hautes-Alpes department. Orchidées des Hautes-Alpes : Bienvenue sur le site des Orchidées des Hautes-Alpes

Jim- The Gentiana kochiana is quite stunning to see, and I now have some growing in my garden. Have you seen Gentiana verna? The blue of it is even more intense. It really is as blue as in the photo.

Whoa! That's absolutely beautiful!

I wish I could grow Gentians here. I've tried once or twice with some seed from Thompson & Morgan. The seedlings always started out well but they always burned up in the summer.

Cheers.
Jim

[Tindomul]

Wow, nothing to envy cultured orchids. Real gorgeous!

[s.kallima]

Beautiful photographs Ramon ! There are still very nice populations of wild native orchids in France (especially in the south east and south west), even if a lot of them have been destroyed by intensive agriculture, forest plantation and suburban home building (between other threats...). It is an everyday fight to keep these (and many others) spectacular plants alive in their habitat.