Summer Flowers

The orchids, have yet again put on a splendid show, appearing in new places across the reserve.  The Northern Marsh Orchids have completed their flowering and are now setting seed.  Common Spotted Orchids are still standing proud, some are the dark pink colour you expect,

whilst some are much paler

Common Centaury usually only flowered on a path near a net ride and along the access road.  It, like the orchids, has spread its wings and is growing in one of the heath paddocks.

Walking up to the moor, the white flowered Privet is releasing its powerful scent.  Privet, which is often used as hedging is rarely allowed to flower, but at Foxglove we have two shrubs growing.  The scent attracts many bees and also, right on the topmost flower, a Red Admiral.

Rayed Knapweed is blooming across the moor and is always alive with bees and other insects.  Finally after watching a Small Skipper for some time, it landed on a Hardhead to feed.  These flowers are a valuable food source for a variety of insects.

Many moths fly at night but some can be seen during the day.  An Antler moth, so named because of the antler marking on its wings was feasting on a Rayed Kapweed.  They can arrive in the moth trap in quite large numbers.

And finally a little bit of fun!  There are not enough flowers and food on the moor so the bee and the butterfly had to share the same flower!