"Des Higgins" wrote in message
...

"WaltA" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:57:21 +0100, Sacha wrote:

I think weather conditions must make a big difference to whether these
orchids flower or not. Same with the fields full of mushrooms that
sometimes occur and often don't!

Yes,
we used to have lots of shaggycap and puffballs here, not seen any for
three years, and I dont use any *cides neiver

You're so lucky to have it there, though

Yes, it is a treasure.

and it might be worth marking the precise spot with a cane just so you
can
leave it un-mown next year!

Yep, three markers in a triangle already there nearby, to avoid it
being trampled on by any shortcutting postmen or absentminded
half-blind mowers !
We also mark the pyramid orchids for same reason (but I begin to
suspect that the rabbits have me sussed already and are treating the
sticks as BigMac signposts !! )

There are seven seed pods on it, one wonders about harvesting (later)
two or so of them for transport to more protected location ???



From what I can remember, most UK orchids take 3-10 years to flower and
then die so once you see the flowers, those particular plants will not
come back. Most of them do have recognisable leaves but you have to look
carefully, to spot the pre-flowering ones, in order to pamper them. It
sounds like you are already doing well in encouraging pyramidal orchids
so, at a wild guess, just keep doing what you are doing :-). Just leave
them to it would be my guess.
When they do set seed, they produce vast quantities of very very minutes
seeds which take ages to germinate and develop and require very precise
conditions and availability of mycorrhizal fungi so they are notoriously
difficult to grow like conventional plants even though some of the march

that should be marsh.

orchids (Dactylorrhiza spp.) do seem to be used in borders and even look
very spectacular.

Des