Most people think of orchids as huge white or purple tropical flowers, growing on trees, and sold at expensive florists' or more recently in supermarkets and garden centres. Few people know that orchids can be found all over the world, and that there are dozens of species of European terrestrial wild orchids. They are often relatively small and mysterious plants growing in obscure wild and unkept areas, often among grasses or in undergrowth, and therefore almost invisible (except when flowering when they can be extremely beautiful). Many wild orchids are legally protected, but this fact does not 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 a dozen different species of wild orchids. They could even be growing in your own 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. The flowers must go to seed to allow the plants to spread.
article and photos © 2013 Jan Wikramaratna |
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undergrowth is a mass of bushy plants, growing under trees, etc. = brousaillle | a flower = une fleur | to flower [vb] is to produce flowers = fleurir |
to mow is to cut grass with a machine = tondre |
a plough is a tool used to break the earth in a field and turn it = une charrue | to plough [vb] = labourer |
fragrant means sweet-smelling = parfumé(e) | a lawn is an area of finely-cut grass = pelouse | to pick is to take a flower or a leaf, by cutting or breaking its stem = cueillir |
seeds are produced by a plant and will grow into new plants | to seed [vb] is to produce seeds | to go to seed is an expression meaning 'to produce seeds' |