The orchids started this summer at La Chaise with a most odd behaviour. Usually they are in small clumps of two or three plants. One extreme exception was the spread of the early purples under the ash trees – from a distance they looked like a rash of clover. But then the sheep decided this was a good corner for digesting and sat and sat. Now there are no early purples there.
Ever since the juniper bushes started dying some three/four years ago, I have worried what would happen to the orchids that used to co-habit with them on the rocky slopes. After good winters, warm and wet, there would be prolific numbers of pyramid and scented orchids, sometimes the hanging man could be found, also the bee and fly orchids, if not plentiful, were not rare.
Young juniper bushes sprang up in a random manner, some came up near the lake and grew rapidly. Others gradually spread along the fence at the bottom of the horse fields. Now they are flourishing – not least because they are not mowed, there are no horses in the fields and sheep do not relish young juniper tops. Soon there will be a good thick, long hedge of juniper. We could call it ‘re-wilding’ even though involuntary.
And now the orchids have discovered them and the partnership has been restored. Lurking in the lower branches are some smaller purple orchids – may they spread and prosper.
Yes, I know – one of them is actually a clover…