Unexpected!

The canal is full of surprises, a terrapin the other day, and again yesterday. Today, on the way back from a celebration lunch in town (NO alcohol, L&A both driving later)  a cluster of broadleaved helleborines: orchids to the less geeky! We must have walked past then a dozen times in the last month, how did I miss them? One was over 2 feet tall. I'm sure they haven't been here for all the 30 years we have. A UK first for me, although I saw them in France a couple of years ago.

The characteristic feature is the large bract at the base of the ovary. The colour is anything from green to purple, and according to Harrap&Harrap "...nowhere is too humble...you stumble upon rather than search for..." It's said to be common in inner Glasgow, what a little gem!