Early Purple Orchid

First day back on the high fells for a week or so - the changes are subtle but there to see. Down in the grikes the ferns are emerging - the dog violets are all out along with some tormentil and the odd oxeye. Best of all however is the emergence of the orchids - the first being these Early Purple Orchids - growing in strong little groups they were all across a patch of hillside that was grass alone when we walked across it last week - the rain and strong sun of the last few days together with the nice ambient temperature, must have just been enough to encourage them to bloom.
Last year when I was running a lot I kept bumping into a local octogenarian who's passion was to be out photographing the flora - strictly within a two mile radius of the village - I remember her telling me that so far she'd identified over two hundred different flowering plants - I guess I've got some catching up to do.