The Big Garden and Croft

J & D >  Over the past few years there’s been exponential growth in the number of orchids on our croft – and to a degree also elsewhere. Early Marsh Orchids  – with thier short stem, short flower head, pinky-white petals  – come first. The Northern Marsh Orchids (tall stout stems – proportionately taller flower head with deep pink to purple petals, the latter usually with contrasting pattern – appear later, usually as the Early Marsh are fading away.  More recently, and in both fewer numbers and more limited spread, we’ve come across both Common Spotted and Heath Spotted Orchids.

Denise > It’s late May, but it still feels like early May – thanks to powerful cold winds from melting glaciers in Greenland.  Everything natural is at least 3 weeks behind.  Nonetheless, during the past few days, we’ve been getting a good spell of warming sunshine – and that has encouraged plants to throw out new branches, leaves, and even flowers. At this time of year – or, rather, that time of year (ie in a normal early May) wild flowers are, predominantly yellow.  We were over at the croft, a couple of days ago, planting half a dozen oak trees, and everything was yellow.  Or green.  Except …