First wild orchids of the season!
 

The first wild orchids of the season are appearing in my region. In my area of the Beaujolais there are not many different ones, but that's fine with me. I have found Orchis mascula and what seems to be Dactylorhiza maculata, as well as crosses between them and pale and/or albino types. These are all very similar, so I'm not sure which are what. One field used to have many of them, but their numbers have declined due to people picking them and farmers making hay. So 2 years ago I started a repopulation program, so to speak. I pollinate flowers, then come back when the pods are ripe to sow the seeds in the field, which is now used for livestock (the pods now have time to ripen before being cut down). As a result, there were less than 10 plants two years ago, and last weekend I counted 83!!

Camille, you are one AWESOME BLOSSOM!

Those orchids are gorgeous and so delightful in those fields of green, lush grass.

You did sooooooo good!

Thanks so much for sharing your photos!

Wow, Camille! That's is really awesome. Such great work. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they continue to flourish unimpeded. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story and pics.

What you've done is simply wonderful! I imagine they are even more beautiful in person. Thanks for sharing these photos.

Wow, Camille! They are beautiful - I can't wait to see 'Common Spotted' around here. Still some time away, though. What you've done is a wonderful thing!! Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing it with us!

What a wonderful project. Camille! You are awesome!

Real nice.

Awesome photos. Wonderful colors on those flowers.

Thats so wonderfulof you to do camille!!!! It looks great!

A big WOO-HOO for you, Camille!!!
:gh

What a wonderful thing for you to do...on top of all the other stuff you have going on, you took the time and made the effort to do a great thing...

Thank you :blowkisses: