Tuesday 19 May 2009

The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring

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May is the peak season for orchids around Preuilly, and several species are very easy to spot on the roadside as you are driving along.

We took this photo last Friday on the way to the supermarket. Three species of orchids are in profusion on the roadside here at the moment – Early Purple, Greater Butterfly and Monkey.

Nearby, in Boussay, the Monkey orchids are flowering and the big Lizard Orchid bud spikes are clearly visible. In the sheep fold near Jean Dufy's house, La Boissière, ewes and lambs share the wooded areas with Lady Orchids.

This slug was using a Monkey Orchid as a bridge to cross to some presumably tastier plants.

Susan

2 comments:

Ken Broadhurst said...

That slug is Arion rufus, called La (Grande) Limace rouge or Arion rouge in French. Some people also call it a loche rouge...

Susan said...

I think you are right, assuming you take the view that A. rufus is a good species and not a variant of A. ater :-) Anyway, obviously the most important question must be how those who call it a 'loche rouge' pronouce it!

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