On the Orchid Trail: Helleborines

Today I went on a walk around Whisby Nature Park. Not for just a casual stroll but to look for orchids. These are two new orchids to me, the Green-flowered Helleborine & the Broad-leaved Helleborine.

Above: Researching targeted Orchids

Before adventuring out I first did a bit of research into habitat and also location that its been found before. The location I had was Whisby Nature Park which is a big area to search so I had a guess to where they might be, thinking of the habitat they like.

Above: The Magpie Trail that turned into a Orchid Trail

I decided to walk down the green trail as it goes through some birch woodland and I known they like deciduous woodland and like to grow along paths and rides. I crossed the railway bridge and started to walk through the wood, looking at the sides of the path where they may be growing, low and behold I found one. I couldn't believe it, I had guess right. I was looking at my first Green-flowered Helleborine.

Above: My first Green-flowered Helleborine

I then looked to see if I could see any more and I did. I ended up counting 12 plants which is not to bad. Below are some of the other and much bigger plants I found further down the path.

Above: Close up of the flower of the Green-flowered Helleborine

Above: Green-flowered Helleborine with lots of drooping flowers

Above: Dragonfly Lakes

As I was walking along the path I approached Dragonfly lakes view point. I then noticed that they were more orchids but these ones looked a little bit different. I then relized this was because these ones were Broad-leaved Helleborines. Most of these were just coming into flower but this big one (below) was ahead of all the other and in full flower.