Lizard Orchids in Kent

It was tricky to photograph Lizard Orchids, Himantoglossum hircinum today due to a brisk wind blowing across these calcareous sand dunes near Sandwich, Kent.

In David Lang's "Britain's Orchids" he observes that six of the sixteen populations of this curious orchid in southern England are on golf courses, which begs the question whether golfers are aiding their spread inadvertently.

The picture above, is for me spectacular, showing a Lizard Orchid with a backdrop of glorious Pyramidal Orchids and in the foreground, a Sea-holly, Eryngium maritimum.  Self-evidently, the Sea holly should be "by-the-sea".... just like Sussex!  But Pyramidal Orchids.... and the very rare Lizard Orchid... by the sea!  Wonderful and amazing.  What a lovely day!