Orchid Walk From Chaumussay

Our friend David is in charge of organising a regular Monday five kilometre walk for a group of us. He asked me to lead one so we could look the orchids at Chaumussay on 15 June. It was a bit late in the season, but of course, we've lost a lot of social walking time. The weather wasn't great, but we avoided getting drenched and finished with a picnic in the excellent sheltered tables at Chaumussay (now with new wheelchair access for two new tables). Here is a selection of photos from the outing.

Charolais beef cows, ready to defend their quite new calves from us.

 Old farm cottage.

 Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon (Fr. Trèfle jaunâtre), a plant that is becoming rare because of the loss of flower rich meadow pasture on chalky clay.

 View down the Claise Valley to Chaumussay.

 Walking through Chaumussay.

Red Helleborine Cephalanthera rubra (Fr. Céphalanthère rouge).

Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea (Fr. Gymnadénie moucheron).

Marbled White Melanargia galathea (Fr. le Demi-deuil).

Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera (Fr. Ophrys abeille).

This male Lesser Purple Emperor Apatura ilia (Fr. le Petit Mars Changeant) joined us for our picnic.