Most people think of orchids as expensive huge white or purple tropical flowers, often growing on trees, and found at expensive florist-shops or more recently in supermarkets and garden centres.
Few know that orchids can in fact be found all over the world, and that there are dozens of species of European terrestrial wild orchid. They are often relatively small and mysterious plants which often grow in obscure wild and unkept areas, often among grasses or in undergrowth, and therefore almost invisible except when they are flowering when they can be extremely beautiful.
Many wild orchids are legally protected, but this fact doesn't stop people picking them, ploughing them, or mowing them out of existence! In or near the commune of Franqueville-Saint-Pierre, you can easily find at least twelve different species of wild orchid. They could even be growing in your garden lawn, without you knowing it.
If you are interested, I will happily take you out for a walk to show you some of them. I can also help you to identify them from photos but please don't pick them.
article © 2010 Jan Wikramaratna
| flower = une fleur | to flower [vb]= fleurir | |
undergrowth = brousaillle |
plough = une charrue | to plough [vb] = labourer |
| mow = tondre | lawn = pelouse | to pick [vb] = ceuillir |