Dactylorhiza fuchsii

The first time I have noticed these was on our regular walk around RHS Harlow Carr on the outskirts of Harrogate, during early July. The Common Spotted orchid is the most common of all the orchids in the United Kingdom. They grow in a variety of habitat, at Harlow Carr they were thriving in the long grass, but can equally be found along roadside verges, hedge bottoms, disuse quarries, marshes and even sand dunes. They flower between June and August, and have lovely pale pink spikes with a delicate pink vein running through the flower head.