Minera Quarry, 13th July 2022 (SJ 25156 52172) 

A visit here to see if the Frog X Marsh Orchid has sprung up again this year, but it does not seem to have appeared. Nevertheless a fine day out with plenty to see. With so many Common Spotted Orchids here it is not surprising to find some more unusual forms, and a nice varicolour Pyramidal Orchid is a nice find. The Marsh Fragrant Orchids are the stars this week. I have always been somewhat curious as to why these are Marsh Fragrants when the ground is essentially quite dry, and quite unlike the more boggy ground where they normally grow, such as Sweeney Fen. It has been suggested that perhaps these represent a previously unrecognised taxon, identical in appearance to the regular examples but choosing a quite different habitat. Those growing at Llanymynech Rocks, Eryrys and perhaps even Minchinhampton Common may be of this taxon. I am all for it!

Alyn Waters Country Park 16th July 2022 

The flowering of the Epipactis species each year is a two-edged sword.  Great to get out and see them in their infinite variety, but also means that the bulk of the orchid season is over. Both Broad-leaved and Dune Helleborines are starting to flower here. There is a nice clump behind the visitor centre that I want to see in full flower, but the leafy canopy does make getting a good photo that bit harder. A walk through previously unexplored woodland heading over to Cefn-y-Bedd yielded nothing.

Alyn Waters Country Park 24th and 25th July 2022

The unprecedented heatwave is over and we are orchideering again. First off is a walk through the woods at Llay on the far left side of the main path. Clearly under the trees the heat and lack of rain has not affected the Green-flowered Helleborines here.

Then next day it is on the track of potential Dune x Green-flowered Helleborine hybrids following a tip off. I got quite excited about this clump, but examining the photos I am less convinced, though there must be something there to have caused a degree of suspicion in the first place. Need to go back next year. Always hopeful that Alyn waters will turn up something new.

Over to the Gwersyllt side. There just time for a quick look before the gates are locked, though 4:45pm seems inordinately early in the height of summer. Anyway, the big clump behind the visitor centre has suffered from the heat, with most flowers blackened and just a few at the top surviving. Am I imagining a dash of Dune helleborine in there? Another one for next year I think

Maes y Pant 25th July 2022 (SJ 35397 55187) 

Last year visiting here I was struck by the close proximity of Dune Helleborines, Green-flowered and Broad-leaved Helleborines, and how some plants showed definite signs of mixed parentage. This year the weather has diminished the numbers, plus the winds of the previous winter have brought down some trees and branches. Some of these have been piled up just where I was hoping to photograph some flowers! Looking at the photos taken showed that many were unsuitable for rigourous identification in too many cases. So this year I will post up some, and let you decide what they are. There are some quite pale Broad-leaved Helleborines and perhaps paler Dune Helleborines too.

A chidren`s adventure playground here fell victim to arson a few years ago. A few days before this visit a replacement was officially opened; belatedly due to Covid of course. Imagine the consternation when two days later when a fire was reported in the woods. Caused by a late night campfire apparently. Luckily the playground was not involved and the fire quickly extinguished. We did a tour of the woods and saw no evidence of a fire, so it must have been fairly small.

Alyn Waters Country Park 30th July 2022 

Should I get myself a parking season ticket for here?

I head off to the clearing where Broad-leaved and Dune Helleborines grow together hoping for hybrid signs. Yet again, nothing. In fact the Dune Helleborines have virtually well finished. The Broad-leaved show quite a range of colour and form.