Northern Orchidaceae

My Special Orchid Find. Orchids come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) are certainly one of those orchids that thrill you every time they are seen. As far as orchids go, they are relatively common throughout the UK, on chalky or limestone soils, former quarries, dunes, roadside verges or in places where limestone or chalk has previously being deposited. Here in the north they are less seen than in many southern counties, however when you come across one you are usually quick to notice many more. On some sites they have been known to occur in the thousands, but those circumstances seem to be more rarer these days. Rarer still are variegated plants and in particular members of Orchidaceae.  Immature leaves are strap like and spreading.                   In maturity, leaves are distinctly shorter, reflexed and often overlapping and in a tighter rosette form. This variegated Bee Orchid - the only...