[JTh]

Threre is only one autumn flowering orchid in this region, Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn lady's tresses), which I had never seen before, but I was wondering where I might find it. It is said to be growing all over Greece, but it is rare, and it is also tiny, so it is not so easily found. Imagine my  joy  when I walked across my neighbour's lawn last week (the place is deserted now) and suddenly discovered some small, white flowers, and they were Spiranthes spiralis, around 25 of them, the largest one around 20 cm tall, most of them much smaller. They were not so easy to photograph and maybe not so impressive, but still, it was the most exciting finding this autumn for me.

[Fleur Pavlidis]

Another one, from the English cemetery in Corfu when the MGS were there for the 2004 AGM in late October. Michelle Torres Grant is the photographer.

[JTh]

And a nice one that was. For being relatively rare, they do crop up in strange places, a cemetery and my neighbours lawn!

[Alisdair]

And you can find them in almost any month of the year, and in all sorts of places right across from Europe to the Himalayas. Among quite a few other species in the genus, there's a pretty little Asiatic one now in cultivation, Spiranthes sinensis - rather similar but a good clear pink. Quite covetable.

[Alisdair]

For some intriguing and stunning pictures by John of Ophrys speculum click here.
And for another charming little example, click here.
Of course, the orchids most suited to mediterranean-climate gardens are terrestrial orchids like these, from similar-climate areas, but few are easily obtainable commercially.

[Alisdair]

Another picture for Jorun, taken a few days ago near Kardamyli in southern Greece. We found several Spiranthes spiralis flowering there, despite the extremely dry autumn.

[JTh]

Thank you, Alisdair for showing me this. It is strange, I saw it for the first time this autumn, and not only once, near our house in Halkidiki, but twice. The second time was in Heidi Gildemeister's garden which I was fortunate to visit during my stay in Mallorca for the AGM.

[Alisdair]

You're so lucky to have seen Heidi's fabled garden - I wish I'd had the chance myself!

[JTh]

I know I was extremely lucky, it was amazing, both the place and the owner.

[John]

Ophrys bombylifera is at least one ophrys no one can get wrong. Whenever I have seen this species in Italy or Greece it has never been in large quantities but scattered individuals. Taken in central Italy 3 years ago.

[ezeiza]

Simon in Bulgaria has developed a house method for sowing ground orchids using cardboard and old oak bark. Fascinating and succesful when we all believe it takes a lab and laminar flow facilities. It can be found at SRGC forum. A few pounds expense involved.

[John]

I believe JTh said she too has had success without lab equipment. Here in our London garden Dactylorhiza often seed around especially into other pots.

[ezeiza]

That is great: I used to grow several Dactylorhyzas from Graham Lovell, Chris' dad. They were surprisingly easy. Satyriums too.

[JTh]

Last year I found a nice website on orchid propagation, see http://www.lidaforsgarden.com/orchids/engelsk.htm.  I had some Ophrys oestrifera (possibly  O. oestrifera ssp bicornis) seeds I had gathered the previous year in Halkidiki, but somehow I overlooked the more complicated  initial part of the propagation and last spring I put the seeds directly in the soil (a mixture of potting soil, sand and perlite);  germination was very good.  They seemed to be doing well, but I am not sure if the seedlings survived this winter, because of some serious back problems I had last autumn they were accidentally left in the unheated greenhouse this winter.  I would be very surprised if they are still alive, although this winter was exceptionally mild here in southern Norway, but it showed that they were able to germinate without special growing media and I’ll try again.

[fragman]

We have found Neotinea maculata in the Judean Mts, itn Israek it is very rare.