A Lizard in the Pyramids

A common sight here is the impressive, though not colourful lizard orchid. It can grow to a height of a metre or more and when it unrolls its many tongues the flowers do indeed remind you of lizards. The French call them "orchis bouc", meaning billy goat orchid, so called because it has a distinctly goaty smell.

Also common are the pyramid orchids; they are now on the wane, though the lizards will continue to grow for some weeks. A rather beautiful meadow on our morning walk has specimens of both at present.

 

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

But aren't they beautiful

We may be suffering from the pollen, but the flowers are so beautiful that it is (almost) worth it.
The lady orchid is staring to appear (orchis purpurea) and we have an early example on our roadside.
The garden is also colourful, with the tree peonies prolific and apple blossom and wisteria adding to the palette.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com

You can tell it's Spring

Small morio

one that's grown a bit

Because of all the flowers, birds seeking mates and nest sites, the buds on the quince and blackthorn, cherry blossom in the lower reaches and orchids.
The cowslips made an appearance about 10 days ago then a couple of days ago Malc spotted his first grape hyacinth and tiny orchid. A green winged orchid (orchis morio) and always the most precocious. Today there are 3 specimens and no doubt many more to come.
Val says can I add violets which I love.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com







photo by Sharki

From a walk with Michael Fontes

Dear Val and Malcolm,

I enormously enjoyed my afternoon with you yesterday, and I was pleased to get plenty of interesting photos.  I append five, for you to deal with as you wish.  

The occasional obfuscation by pieces of grass, as in the pyramid photo, is intentional.  I rather like the hazy effect it gives to photos which aren't intended to help people identify the plant or butterfly - I have plenty of other photos for that.

I'd be delighted if you'd give my enterprise a boost.  I sell my cards and photos, rue du Chateau, at the bottom of the hill from the castle going towards the village, late mornings in the summer (April to late October), and by appointment (05.65.65.80.47) throughout the year.  I have a very wide stock of photos of the flowers and butterflies of the Najac area and I make cards on the spot from any photo that people choose.  I also come out to people to take photos of their houses or gardens, from which I make large photos and/or cards.  The photos can be framed immediately and inexpensively (eg. 20 euros for a photo 8 inches by 12 inches) in unglazed frames specially made for me from solid Najac chestnut.  I'm always delighted to receive people who want to come late mornings (between 11 am and 1 pm) Rue du Chateau, to discuss what they've found or to help, if I can, with identification of a flower or a butterfly.

The photos from yesterday are up on the site now.  I was particularly pleased to find all those flowers, which may seem very ordinary to you, but which I'd not yet found this year, because mostly I've been in the Caussy places where they don't grow. It was lovely to be in those lush meadows. 

It was great to meet you both.  Thank you very much for your kindness to me and don't hesitate to be in touch or to come to see me in Najac, whenever.

Best wishes, Michael   to see the full site visit www.orchideesdenajac.fr

Val says I just love the scarce swallowtail butterfly. Fabulous photos going into  the Wild Photos

Orchis Pyramidal / Anacamptis pyramidalis / Pyramid Orchid - 30/04/14

Glanville Fritillary on a Buttercup

La Mélitée du plantain / Melitaea cinxia / Glanville Fritillary - 30/04/14

Scarce Swallowtail on Crimson Clover

Le Flambé / Iphiclides podalirius / Scarce Swallowtail - 30/04/14

Orchidée à la langue / Serapias lingua / Tongue Orchid - 30/04/14

Small Blue on Kidney Vetch

L'Argus frêle / Cupido minimus / Small Blue - 30/04/14

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Early morning sun today and a bit of orchid spotting on the horizon

Not sure how the day is going to go but this morning the sun is shining, the sky is only a watery blue, the trees and grass are still that bright lush, greenest of green. The fields and meadows are full of flowers, the best we remember seeing, the orchids are prolific. We heard someone saying yesterday, "you know there are wild orchids here". Walk out into the countryside and you cannot miss them, they are everywhere and you can identify them easily now with all the various orchid sites.
This brings me to a visit we are having today from orchid expert of Najac called Michael Fontes.
He was surprised a week ago we had found a clutch of pyramid orchids in our lanes. We sent a photo and he agreed that is what they were. They are very common here but these particular ones obviously arrive earlier than those at Najac. More on Michael's visit and orchid talk later.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

It is becoming Orchid time

By the way your orchid photo reminded me of the website of Michael Fontes in Najac:http://www.orchideesdenajac.fr/engindex.htm

 

John

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Our first orchid sightings

Checking at "kestrel corner" last night we spotted a few tiny orchids appearing. Guest photographer Tudor was there this morning and fired off a couple of shots for the Wild Photos page.
Here's one. It's early and it's purple - but I hesitate to call it an early purple.

comments to taglines82@gmail,com