Two of the rarest plants on the course are Maiden Pink and the Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid. The Maiden Pink is easy to spot and identify, not least because it has orange tape around it at the moment. It is well worth having a quick look from the 10th tee on the Green whilst you debate whether or not to try to drive the green. There are a couple of the small vibrant pink flowers out at the moment. Hopefully more will appear as the season progresses.
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| Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides [10th Green] |
The Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid is much harder to find amongst the Common Spotted Orchids on the 4th of the Green. I understand that it appears in small numbers most years and that there is actually some debate as to whether this identification is correct - Orchids are notoriously difficult to identify as they hybridise so readily. I found the orchid below in the right location on the 4th to the left of the green and it looks to have a different shaped lip and looser flowers than the Common Spotted Orchids, but it requires verification by an expert to confirm whether it is Narrow-leaved Marsh.
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| Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineri??? [4th Green] |
Elsewhere on the course, the tall spikes of Viper's Bugloss and Foxgloves are in flower now.
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| Vipers Buglos Echium vulgare [15th Red] |
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| Foxgloves Digitalis purpurea [15th Red] |
Other new plants include:
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| Small Balsam Impatiens parviflora [12th Red] |
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| Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria [13th Red] |
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| Fox-and-cubs Pilosella aurantiaca [15th Blue] |
