As March draws to a close on the Isle of Wight, the woodlands take on that wonderful blue haze of bluebells.
Woodland edges and hedge-banks become festooned with primroses, celandines, and wood anemone.
Elsewhere, garlic mustard jostles with red campion and greater stitchwort.
On the chalk downs, cowslips nod their heads of yellow flowers, heralding the appearance of the first wild orchids.
As April begins, spikes of early purple orchid emerge.
One of the commonest British orchids, it is widespread and occurs in many parts of the Island.
Sometimes known locally as ‘kettle cases’, its preferred habitat is chalk downland, but it also occurs on road verges, in old chalk pits, meadows, cemeteries, and in ancient woodland.
Plants are easy to spot on the downs, their cylindrical purple flower spikes dotted about in short turf or rough grassland.
Heights vary from 4in to 12in on grass but can be taller, 12in to 18in, in woods, with ten to 50 deep purple or pinkish-purple flowers, which create contrasting splashes amidst the bluebell haze. Occasionally, pale pink or white plants may be found.
The dark purple upper sepal and two petals form a loose hood, while the two lateral sepals spread outwards and upwards, like angel’s wings, almost touching back to back.
The lip is purple and three-lobed with crinkled edges. The purple fades to a paler pink or white near the entrance to the spur and is dotted with tiny purple hairs.
The leaves, three to eight in number, are broad, blunt, and form a flat rosette.
Their upper surfaces are light green, shiny, and marked with dark purple spots and blotches.
I first found this species on Afton and Tennyson Downs in May 1975, where healthy populations still occur today.
It inhabits northern woods, copses, and cemeteries around Newtown, Wootton, and Ryde.
Another species, the green-winged or green-veined orchid, also arrives in April.
It occurs in similar habitats and is superficially similar in height, size, and colour.
Distinguishing features are the three to eight dark bluish-green, shiny pointed leaves, lacking the spots or blotches.
Plants are smaller, 2in to 10in. The upper petals and sepal form a hood, which is enclosed by the two larger lateral sepals. These spread out at the sides rather than upwards and are lined with five or six distinct dark green veins, giving rise to the plant's name.
Our plants prefer short grassland, damp meadows, chalk downs, golf courses, and churchyards.
There are good colonies on Brook Downs, Newtown Marshes, and at Osborne House.
Residents in Bembridge, Cowes, Fishbourne, Freshwater, Northwood, Rookley, Ryde, Totland, Whitwell, and Wootton have found this orchid in their gardens, so keep an eye on your lawn.
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