Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)

We went out with one of our walking groups today.  Starting from Rhosesmor Village Hall the walk took us to a secluded bluebell wood where we stopped for photo's.  I noticed we have some superb photos of bluebell woods by blippers Technophobe and  LooseCanon, which I can't compete with, so decided to use a photo of an Early Purple Orchid instead.  These orchids were not in the wood but adjacent to a shady track on our return route.

Did you know?
The early purple orchid is the "long purple" of Ophelia's garland, as referred to by Gertrude in Shakespeare's Hamlet:

"Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, that liberal shepards give a grosser name".


Info courtesy of - plantlife.org.uk