The White Lady

This green and white Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea was photographed in the grounds of the Chateau of Cheverny. Lady Orchids are normally browny purple and pink. A specimen lacking much of the normal pigmentation like this is said to be hypochromatic. Last year I photographed a hypochromatic Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera. The condition is a naturally occuring mutation.

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A la cuisine hier: Spicy Cheesy Soda Bread -- fromageophobes will be alarmed to learn that the recipe took a whole block of cheddar (many thanks to the cheddar fairies who keep me supplied). Make sure you grease the tins well and leave the loaves cooling in the tins for about 10 minutes before attempting to tip out (but don't let them get cold in the tin). 

We went to the 8 mai ceremony yesterday morning, and by curious coincidence, there was smoked salmon or olive savoury cake, served with sparkling wine. The recipe above would be called something like cake aux lardons et fromage in French.

I used my new found breading skills on some dos de cabillaud (cod back) and made oven fish and chips, with homemade chunky chips.

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Loire Valley Nature: A new entry which offers an overview of the hybrid orchids in the Touraine Loire Valley has been added (at the request of Tim). There are photos to compare hybrids with their parent species, including close ups of individual flowers.
A new entry for Narrow-leaved Flax Linum tenuifolium has been added.