Cyprus holds a special place in my heart; a wonderfully accommodating island of outstanding beauty and a stunning variety of endemic #orchids

7/10/26 #Cumbria - Today’s find was one of my highlights of the year so far. The Date Waxcap (Hygrocybe spadicea) is one of the UK’s rarest #chegd fungi and one that is notoriously difficult to nail down. Hopefully will come across some better examples next time…

Probably no surprise that my #favouriteplant is the glorious Marsh Gentian. I love everything about them & this year they provided some extra magic.

Watching as the sun set, it was incredible to see the gorgeous blue flowers close for the night, something I'd not observed before. 😍

#wildflowerhour

It's been a joy to see so many people offering a huge THANK YOU to the fabulous @botanybeck.bsky.social for all her wonderful work devising the weekly #WildFlowerHour challenges, which help us focus on different aspects of our amazing British & Irish wild & naturalised plants.
Thank you, Rebecca!

Forever associated with the speedy and hawk-eyed @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
On this occasion, lightning reflexes to capture a stoat that ran across our path.

Orchis ustulata L., Burnt-tip Orchid
#FavouritePlants #WIldflowerHour

Campanula rotundifolia L, Harebell
Another beauty associated with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
#FavouritePlants #WildflowerHour

Ok
So, #FavouritePlant

#WildflowerHour
Is over so I can post my REAL favourite flower of the year, because it was not (sadly!) In UK.
How about THiS.
Courtesy of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
@dunnjons.bsky.social
And
@mariposanature.bsky.social
Can"t be bettered.

Can I have a third #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour? 😅
I joined @dunnjons.bsky.social and @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social on one of their brilliant Kent orchid tours this year, and saw a Late Spider orchid for my first time. We also found a magnificent v. flavescens, and reached 14 different orchids!

For the #wildflowerhour #favouriteplant challenge 2026, I'm probably going to choose this lovely patch of Coralroot #Orchids (Corallorhiza trifida) from the dunes of South Cumbria. They were absolutely magnificent 🥰

Two years ago I was invited onto BBC News at 6 and World Today to discuss my sighting of a Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) in the UK

Both 2025 & 2026 have been unusually warm, dry summers; there's little chance of seeing one in such years

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyA...

@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Ghost #Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) galore from several sites across #France including a trio that featured as part of the tour I led for @mariposanature.bsky.social with @dunnjons.bsky.social They have struggled due to drought and heat, especially in the Alps with many no shows at reliable sites

3/8/26 #France - Live from the field at nearly 3000m we find one of the most special #alpine wildflowers - Black Genepi (Artemisia genepi). Used as a flavouring, especially in spirits and ice creams it is a sought-after herb. Seen leading for @mariposanature.bsky.social

2/8/26 #France - Halfway through our Summer #Orchids of the #Alps tour and it has been a fine day botanising at altitude; many fine finds including Dactylorhiza viridis, Gentiana verna, Saxifraga oppositifolia and Soldanella alpina. Leading with @dunnjons.bsky.social