iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Richard Bate

Sarah @sarahfaulkner.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Probably no surprise that my #favouriteplant is the glorious Marsh Gentian. I love everything about them & this year they provided some extra magic. Watching as the sun set, it was incredible to see the gorgeous blue flowers close for the night, something I'd not observed before. 😍 #wildflowerhour

Marsh Gentian flowers closing in the setting sun, Purbeck, Dorset. Beautiful.

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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It's been a joy to see so many people offering a huge THANK YOU to the fabulous @botanybeck.bsky.social for all her wonderful work devising the weekly #WildFlowerHour challenges, which help us focus on different aspects of our amazing British & Irish wild & naturalised plants. Thank you, Rebecca!

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Lin Hawthorne @haggewoods.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Forever associated with the speedy and hawk-eyed @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social On this occasion, lightning reflexes to capture a stoat that ran across our path. Orchis ustulata L., Burnt-tip Orchid #FavouritePlants #WIldflowerHour

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Lin Hawthorne @haggewoods.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Campanula rotundifolia L, Harebell Another beauty associated with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social #FavouritePlants #WildflowerHour

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Ok So, #FavouritePlant #WildflowerHour Is over so I can post my REAL favourite flower of the year, because it was not (sadly!) In UK. How about THiS. Courtesy of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social @dunnjons.bsky.social And @mariposanature.bsky.social Can"t be bettered.

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David Harris @cycle4nature.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Can I have a third #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour? 😅 I joined @dunnjons.bsky.social and @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social on one of their brilliant Kent orchid tours this year, and saw a Late Spider orchid for my first time. We also found a magnificent v. flavescens, and reached 14 different orchids!

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

For the #wildflowerhour #favouriteplant challenge 2026, I'm probably going to choose this lovely patch of Coralroot #Orchids (Corallorhiza trifida) from the dunes of South Cumbria. They were absolutely magnificent 🥰

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Two years ago I was invited onto BBC News at 6 and World Today to discuss my sighting of a Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) in the UK Both 2025 & 2026 have been unusually warm, dry summers; there's little chance of seeing one in such years www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUyA... @bsbibotany.bsky.social

youtube.com

Ghost Orchid finder, Richard Bate, on BBC World Today

YouTube video by Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 As of today, now just 2 places left available to join us for Orchids of Cyprus in spring 2027. Led by the brilliant orchid- and wildlife-finding team of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and Dave Fairhurst, it's a tour to savour. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

23/8/26 #Lancashire - Small and twisted things are usually best ignored, but the Autumn Ladies Tresses #Orchid (Spiranthes spiralis) is rather charming, with a raceme of small white flowers that often spiral. The much-welcomed rain has caused a few to appear #wildflowerhour

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Dr Robert Bohan @robertbohan.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Thread: An ancient meadow in the middle of Ireland - coming across these rare patches of nature inspired a sense of wonder for me. That sense is the motivation behind my hand-drawn ink on paper works, as you can see if you scroll down in this thread! [1]

#Art
#Artist
#ArtShare
#ArtistsOnBluesky
#ContemporaryArt
#Drawing
#InkDrawing
#Illustration
#OriginalArt
#FineArt
#IrishArt
#CelticArt
#InkArt
#PenAndInk
#OriginalDrawing
#HibernoCeltic
#IrishArtist
#ArtCollectors
#ArtForSale
#EtsyArtist

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Jack Wallington @jackwallington.com · 22/08/2026

“Can’t beat them? Eat them! Ten of the tastiest garden weeds” my latest article in The Guardian today, print and online www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... (the team did a beautiful job of the print version especially!)

theguardian.com

Can’t beat them? Eat them! Ten of the tastiest garden weeds

Edible weeds grow in abundance in our gardens, streets and parks. With a little know-how, you can harvest delicious, nutritious, free greens

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

12/8/26 #Spain - My first total solar #eclipse and hopefully not my last! An absolutely mindblowing experience and a joy to share with the great company of my good friends at @mariposanature.bsky.social and guests

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Epipogium aphyllum, the Ghost #orchid. An amazing experience, and something I never thought I'd see. With great thanks to @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 More bookings made y'day mean our spring 2027 orchid tours are filling up. Just 2 places remain available to join @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for the superb Orchids of Crete - nearly 60 species were recorded by our 2026 group! www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Despite the recent drought many members of the Asteraceae or daisy family are looking just splendid. Perfect for this week’s #WildflowerHour! See if you can find one & share your pics this Sunday evening 8-9pm using the hashtag #DaisyFamily. Happy Asteraceae hunting!

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Ghost #Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) galore from several sites across #France including a trio that featured as part of the tour I led for @mariposanature.bsky.social with @dunnjons.bsky.social They have struggled due to drought and heat, especially in the Alps with many no shows at reliable sites

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in the Pyrenees

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in Savoie

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in the Vercors

Ghost Orchids (Epipogium aphyllum) in Sauvain

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Roger - you look like you've seen a ghost!

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Today was Blue Monday, in the very best of ways, with seven species of gentian seen in flower here in the French Alps with the @mariposanature.bsky.social tour I'm co-leading with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

Snow Gentian (Gentiana nivalis) © Jon Dunn

Willow Gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) © Jon Dunn

Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis ciliata) © Jon Dunn

Small-leaved Gentian (Gentiana brachyphylla) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

3/8/26 #France - Live from the field at nearly 3000m we find one of the most special #alpine wildflowers - Black Genepi (Artemisia genepi). Used as a flavouring, especially in spirits and ice creams it is a sought-after herb. Seen leading for @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

If there's more fun to be had than wandering around a mountaintop with friends looking for alpine wildflowers, I'd very much like to know about it. Today was another enjoyable day with the @mariposanature.bsky.social group I'm co-leading with my good pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

Mount Cenis Bellflower (Campanula cenisia) © Jon Dunn

Glacier Buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis) © Jon Dunn

Grey Ragwort (Jacobaea incana) © Jon Dunn

Alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

2/8/26 #France - Halfway through our Summer #Orchids of the #Alps tour and it has been a fine day botanising at altitude; many fine finds including Dactylorhiza viridis, Gentiana verna, Saxifraga oppositifolia and Soldanella alpina. Leading with @dunnjons.bsky.social

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Reposted by Dr Richard Bate

Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

So, after fourteen years, we finally meet, ms Ghost. #Orchid

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Well, hello you. First full day of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Summer Orchids of the French Alps tour, and we saw our first three Ghost Orchid, including this rather fine example. Massive credit to my co-leader, @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for all his hard pre-tour work in the field.

Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

29/7/26 #France - Our First Summer #Orchids of the French Alps tour has kicked off and we have already bagged our first rarity, this fantastic #helleborine Epipactis albensis (syn. Epipactis fibri) near the banks of the Rhône @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

28/7/26 #France - Ghost #Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) and a trio of Vanilla #Orchids (Gymnadenia austriaca syn. Nigritella austriaca) resplendent in the French Alps. One of the most important pre-tour recces I have ever carried out, due to the heatwaves throughout the year @mariposanature.bsky.social

A rather magnificent example of Epipogium aphyllum, aka the Ghost Orchid

Gymnadenia austriaca syn Nigritella austriaca, colloquially referred to as Vanilla Orchids

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

19/7/26 #Lancashire - Watching the F1 this afternoon, we were disturbed by loud buzzing at the open window. The culprit was this utterly magnificent beast, the Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus). She was duly released after a few photographs and I wish her all the best 🥰

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

13/7/26 #Cumbria - After seeing a lot of cooked helleborines in the Midlands, I didn't have high hopes for the Tyne Helleborines (Epipactis dunensis ssp tynensis) on the banks of the South Tyne. They're a touch early, but pleasingly in great condition 🥰 #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

13/7/26 #Cumbria - With perfect weather and no football on this evening, I had the perfect excuse to get out. The highlight by far was this magnificent Bog #Orchid (Hammarbya paludosa), a real chonker so far as this species goes #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

10/7/26 #Gloucestershire - The Narrow-Lipped Helleborine (Epipactis leptochila) is a Southern speciality in Britain. This lovely plant was the only one still in flower at the sites I visited. 25 years ago I'd have waited until August to look for these #orchids #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Reposted by Dr Richard Bate

Simon West @simonwest26.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

On the way home from Scotland stopped of at Aviemore. Didn’t find what I was looking for but did find 100+ Creepling Lady’s-tresses growing on a roadside verge #ukorchids #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

5/7/26 #Cumbria - Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) on #HuttonRoof aren't always "Dark Red". This amazing example is var. albiflora, a particularly rare find with almost pure-white flowers. A great sight for guests of @mariposanature.bsky.social who I was leading for today #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

5/7/26 #Cumbria - The Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) on the limestone pavements of #HuttonRoof never fail to delight. Among my favourites are var. bicolor, or "lemon petal" examples, with fabulous two-tone flowers @bsbibotany.bsky.social @mariposanature.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

4/7/26 #Cumbria - I led a group for the Arnside & Silverdale Natural History Society on the limestone grasslands searching for summer #orchids, and highlights included Frog #Orchids (Dactylorhiza viridis) and Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

3/7/26 #Cumbria - Phwoar! The Dark Red #Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) are peaking on the Limestone pavements above Morecambe Bay, in an array of colours! Tomorrow I take Arnside & District NHS out near Kendal and on Sunday it’s a trip up #HuttonRoof for @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Paul Hughes @pshughes.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Had to put on my crampons on and grow my Chris Bonington beard to see the Snowden Lily on Cwm Idwal, worth it in the end. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @panspecieslisting.bsky.social

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phoebeob1 @phoebeobrien.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Help @bsbibotany.bsky.social what on earth is this? I'm in the field without my book. Gymnadenia and Twayblade right beside, but this site also has Spotted, Heath, Bee, Dense, Butterfly, ALT and Pyramidal

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Today has been a *good* day here in the Arctic. A close encounter with a favorite of mine, Northern Clouded Yellow. And equally close encounters with further desirables - Arctic, Lapland, Freija's & Frigga's Fritillary; Arctic, Arctic Woodland & Lapland Ringlet; and more still! #butterflies

Northern Clouded Yellow (Colias hecla) © Jon Dunn

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

29/6/26 #Bolton - Coming across these hyperchromic Common Spotted #Orchids was a hugely welcome surprise this afternoon. Blessed with an abundance of pigmentation, they are often described as a varietal form; Dactylorhiza fuchsii var rhodochila #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

29/6/26 #Bolton - #Orchids galore at this former industrial site where an alkaline grassland has been artificially created due to soda ash waste. Marsh Helleborine & Marsh Fragrant Orchids (L) are present in great numbers, as well as the odd Bee #Orchid (R) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

28/6/26 #Lincolnshire - I managed to sneak away from family engagements to an absolutely stellar sand dune complex on the East Coast, where I've never seen so many Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

21/6/26 #Highland - It wasn't until I went through my photos that I spotted this rare aberration affecting a Coralroot #Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida). Some of its flowers are peloric, the labellum is being expressed by all three petals (resulting in symmetry) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

21/6/26 #Highland - Some lovely examples of Heath Fragrant #Orchid (Gymnadenia borealis) on show in the submontane meadows of the Scottish uplands. Note the shape of the flowers, with the labella greater in length than width and shorter, acute-tipped sepals #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

23/6/26 #Cumbria - It's going to get rather warm later this week, so this evening was the time to get out. I was delighted to come across this plant again, an rare and unusual hybrid between the Northern Marsh and Frog #Orchids (Dactylorhiza x viridella) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

22/6/26 #Cheshire - I don't regularly come across Marsh Fragrant #Orchids (Gymnadenia densiflora) so it was lovely to bump into a few at this former industrial works, a site reminiscent of one I know near Bolton that sports a similarly calcicolous flora #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

22/6/26 #Cheshire - I love an opportunistic visit to a new place, especially if it's near somewhere I'm doing something! This awesome site is an abandoned industrial wasteland home to thousands of #Orchids including Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris) #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

21/6/26 #Highland - It was great to meet up with a good friend of mine and visit some of the fine sites South of Inverness, where some very fine plants grow - such as Moneses uniflora, Single-Flowered Wintergreen #wildflowerhour

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

21/6/26 #Highland - A Lesser Butterfly (Platanthera bifolia) and Small White #Orchid (Pseudorchis albida) growing side by side in a submontane meadow; such a fine sight is always going to be up there with my favourite moments of the year so far #wildflowerhour @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

21/6/26 #Highland - I was just saying how unusual that intergeneric hybrids are, so here's another one - and that's reflective of the rich diversity of the site it was found at. x Dactylodenia varia a hybrid between Heath Fragrant and Northern Marsh #Orchids #wildflowerhour @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

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