The Road to Saktoria site 1, 11th April 2018 (35.14546, 24.63296)  

After visits to the archaeological sites of Phaistos (Minoan city and palace) and Gortynia (Dorian city), both worth the drive, we take to the road heading to the village of Saktouria. The first stop is just off the main Spili to Agios Gallini road. Cretan wild flowers abound here, especially large white anenomes. It could be better orchid wise, but it does provide an Ophrys sphegodes ssp. cretensis and Op. mammosa. They look quite similar, but note the bumps on the mammosa lip, and the fine yellow rim to the lip of the sphegodes. Otherwise it is fairly routine with Anacamptis pyramidalis, A. papilionacaea, A. collina, Orchis italica, and Serapias bergonii.

  
Ophrys sphegodes ssp. cretensis and Op. mammosa

Anacamptis pyramidalis, A. papilionacaea, A. collina, Orchis italica, and Serapias bergonii.

The Road to Saktoria site 2, 11th April 2018 (35.14154, 24.63213)

The next site is a little further on at a hair-pin bend. Orchids grow on the slope at the side of a track, but because of the steepness we limit ourselves to what can be seen from the the track.
There is a new find at this site - Ophrys omegafera ssp basilissa with its larger flowers and more velvety lip. A nicely arranged group of Anacamptis pyramidalis takes my eye, while I notice both Ophrys sicula and Op. phryganae grow here.

The Road to Saktoria site 3, 11th April 2018

Somewhere, and I am not quite sure where, we make an unscheduled stop having spotted Orchis italica at the roadside. One inflorescence looks like someone is hoovering it (just out of shot), with individual flowers being sucked in and stretched. Another oddity was an Anacamptis collina. The flowers are un-resupinate, and seem not to be opening fully; they had an almost waxy appearance. Further examples of Ophrys omegafera ssp basilissa are also found. A patch of Serapias bergonii has the flowers standing erect from the other vegetation, like meerkats on the lookout. Otherwise there is A. papilion-acaea and A. pyramidalis.

The Road to Saktoria site 4, 11th April 2018 (35.13909, 24.63112)

Heading onward the next stop is down a slope, but while not particularly rocky, there is a lot of grassy undergrowth which seems to have swamped out orchids because this was meant to be much richer in species than what we found.
First off there are Ophrys episcopalis .... or are they? The lip shape of most, including the upturned protuberance, are the classic shape, but is there a bit of Op. heldreichii in the mix? All seem to have the `horns' of the latter including one with very long ones. Could this be a hybrid swarm? Otherwise, we see the first Anacamptis laxiflora, confirming the dampness of the site. We must be quite high up because the Himantoglossum robertiana is still more or less in flower. Also seen was the inevitable Orchis italica and Serapias bergonii

 
Two typical Op. heldreichii and a more likely hybrid   and    two H. robertiana

The Road to Saktoria site 5, 11th April 2018 (35.12693, 24.62090)

Another site, closer to the village of Saktoria, and another rocky steep slope with orchids. Nothing new seen, but a varied and interesting collection. Ophyrs is the most populous genus, with Op. omegafera, Op. bombilifera, Op. spruneri, Op. cretica ssp cretica, Op. phryganae and Op. sicula. The Op. spruneri have vivid magenta petals and there is a similar hint of this in the Op. cretica too. Is it something in the soil or a shared characteristic due to hybridisation? The Op. cretica full plant photo shows how spindly  and fragile these can grow.

 
Op. omegafera two shots, Op. bombilifera, Op. spruneri two shots
 
 Op. cretica ssp cretica two shots, Op. phryganae and Op. sicula

Also present is Orchis quadripunctata, O. pauciflora and O. italica with patterned head but white bodies. The findings are rounded off by Himantoglossum robertiana and Serapias bergonii

Saktoria, 11th April 2018  (35.120917, 24.613155)

We finally arrive in the village of Saktoria. While it may seem to be the remotest place on the island, with pigs and goats around, we do notice that the road has evidence that hi-speed cable has been installed here. A mix of nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. We had come here for one thing only, and found it just where we parked and where it was expected to be - Ophrys spruneri ssp grigoriana. Of course we spent time looking along the wrong bit of roadside first, noting Op. cretica ssp cretica, Op. sicula. The ssp grigoriana is just past its best unfortunately, but this Cretan specialty is indeed notable for its over-sized flowers. By now it is time for refreshments