inspired by orchids

We went to the National Trust reserve at Silverdale today to hunt for the ladies slipper orchid. We saw one last year in France but the flowers had been ruined by rain, so it was looking rather bedraggled. We had been given instructions as to where to find this one, but it proved to be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

There were paths criss crossing over the whole lime-stone area - and not all of them human tracks. It must be alive with wild animals when all the humans go home.

We failed to find the ladies slipper, but we saw what must be the last of the early purple orchid and a good selection of other flowers that I am not clever enough to name. We will have to go again with someone who knows their wild flowers.

Another lovely trip, just half an hour from our front door.