Snippets of Wealth - Monday 15th July 2017 - Hutton Roof - Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly/ Maiden Pink/ Epipactis atrorubens etc.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

There were lots of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies around as though perhaps there had been a large hatch.

I had several whilst walking up to Hutton Roof, and then more whilst on the Fell.  

Small Torts: x9 some on milk thistle, also Large Skippers, numerous Meadow Browns and Ringlets, Small White x2, Dark Green Fritillary x3, Grayling scores, Painted Lady x1

Birds: Could hear some Peregrines, also Chiffchaffs calling other than this pretty quiet...

Also today I had my first Harebell in Burton Fell and later on I noticed the Maiden Pinks had come through in Dalton.

My first Harebell of the year

Above are four photos of the rare Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides) which is seen each year in Dalton.

The two photos above show Meadowsweet which is growing in the Plain Quarry, Dalton picnic area

Plain Quarry picnic area, Dalton

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Wanted to check out some more Dark Red Helleborines this morning especially specimen 17d and I was not let down, here are a few of the photos I took.

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!)

Photo: 2017 Hutton Roof

To show comparison of closed hyperchile back in 2017 and still retained today.

This is our very special specimen 17d (PMG) which was a trio in 2017, but in 2018 the plants were predated.  This year the plant has come up well but only has a single plant.

It has a colour of its very own but much darker this year, and what makes it even more special is that the epichile and bosses are cream colour to each individual flower.  Not only that some of the flowers are still the wrong way around as you can see in the following photos, but also together with two of the flowers the hyperchile has not opened, I have checked a past photo from 2017 (which I will put under this photo) and you see within this photo that even back then in 2017 one of the flowers had this closed hyperchile problem. 

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Shows the full flowering spike

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Shows from the back of the plant with two flowers still upright.

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

This shows a closer photo of the hyperchile which has not opened (there are 2)

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Showing spiralling leaves etc

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

This shows two of the flowers with closed hyperchiles

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Epipactis atrorubens (for now!!) - Dark Red Helleborine Click over to enlarge

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Shows full plant

Epipactis atrorubens ? Dark Red Helleborine

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

The beautiful little light green stalked one as you enter the fell

Epipactis atrorubens var 'bicolor'called Escarp 13

Photo: Hutton Roof on 15th July 2019

suffered early dieback last year on account of heatwave weather

Epipactis atrorubens var 'bicolor' called Escarp 13

Photo: Hutton Roof on 15th July 2019

suffered early dieback last year on account of heatwave weather

Shows the bottom flowers (bicolor)

Epipactis atrorubens var 'bicolor' called Escarp 13

Photo: Hutton Roof on 15th July 2019

suffered early dieback last year on account of heatwave weather

Shows the bottom stem and leaf structure

Epipactis atrorubens var 'bicolor' called Escarp 13

Photo: Hutton Roof on 15th July 2019

suffered early dieback last year on account of heatwave weather

Shows a closeup of the flowers

Epipactis helleborine (Broad Leaved Helleborine)

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

This year the flower developed into a 'bicolor' but of course within Helleborine

Epipactis helleborine - our first flower today

Epipactis atrorubens - Dark Red Helleborine

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof.

This beautiful purple colour is now coming through on several specimens

Epipactis atrorubens - Dark Red Helleborine

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof.

This beautiful purple colour is now coming through on several specimens

Specimen 74 Epipactis atrorubens var 'bicolor' - Dark Red Helleborine

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof

Premature dieback last year because of heatwave, come through

this year has a pair but both much stunted

Epipactis helleborine - showing spiral leafing

var: Pallens - Rich M

Photo: 15th July 2019 - Hutton Roof