MANY THANKS FOR YOUR FAVS, ESPECIALLY YOUR COMMENTS........TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE AND WILDLIFE.

Stumbled on this while walking through a local park, growing in a section of long grass which for several years has not been cut. Didn't realise that such a precious flower was so near my home.

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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM FOR HOPEFULLY MORE OF THE SAME.

Bee Orchids are fascinating and beautiful little flowers, seen throughout Europe between mid-April and July, singly or in small groups, in meadows, woodland edges or even by the side of the road. Their preference however, is for chalky soil. They take up to six year to flower and may only flower once in their lifetime. This explains why some years there are lots around, while others years, they are less common.

They are so called because the flower mimics a female bee entering the flower. In addition to this, it also produces chemical signals which attract certain types of bees. After landing on the flower the frustrated bee goes off and visits another, and in this way pollination occurs. Where the particular species of bee is absent, it is able to self-pollinate.

I came across this one in a small limestone valley, near where I live, thanks to some helpful orchid admirers who pointed me in the right direction. It was about 7'' tall and had about 3-4 flowers on an upright stalk.

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