3 more orchids

We had a wonderful walk today with Teresa, Ian had to go off to who-knows-where on a business trip. We had a bad start sitting on the Hog's Back for nearly an hour as it was blocked by an RTA, but we got to Selbourne eventually and set off to walk rather than visit Gilbert White's house as it didn't look as though it would rain. We found a small Plantlife organised nature reserve, a sign said we might see frog, musk & pyramidal orchids. We'd already seen the pyramidal, & thought the others semi-mythical!

 A chap with a big camera was grovelling on the grass looking for rufous grasshoppers said he'd seen one frog orchid on top on one of the dozen or so hillocks, & his camera recorded longitude & latitude, but only to within a few dozen yards. He'd also seen 1 musk, I beat him & found a small cluster, they're a bit subtle, grass coloured and small even by British orchid standards,but wonderful. I suspect they're a bit less rare than the books say as so easily missed.

With hindsight, I think I've met one before, but didn't have a book to identify it.

 He spent some time looking for the frog & eventually tracked down the right hill, technology has its uses! After a short time grovelling this little treasure revealed itself. Just one, in spite of our search for one of our own. Many thanks to the anonymous enthusiast!

That makes ten since I got my new camera, only 45 or so more!