The diversity of Ophrys species in Italy is incredible. All these
orchids mimic their pollinators (small species of bees and wasps)
and secrete scents that parallel the pheromones secreted by the
female insects.
Gargano and Sicily are two of the 'hotspots' for this genus...and
we run our special tours to both
Orchids of all sorts, terrestrial and epiphytic are a speciality.
The collection illustrates virtually every European species,
variety and hybrid in close-up and habitat shots. There is an
extensive collection of tropical orchids on film which is also
available from the agencies we supply.
A
bit of background
I have a personal interest in all aspects of this genus of orchids
that, effectively, began when I found my first bee orchid on the
sand dunes at Kenfig, S. Wales when I was ten years old.
As a research student in 1972 beginning work on a PhD I began to
get idea that I was on a path I did not enjoy - the chance purchase
of Anthony Huxley's
Flowers of the Mediterranean
showed a bewildering array of Mediterranean Ophrys...it was a
life-changing event. Little did I know that day that a few years in
the future I would meet and be befriended by Anthony Huxley and
that he would mentor my work on a first book"Wild
Orchids of Britain and Europe
that appeared in 1983 and became a classic of its kind with, these
days, a value much greater than its cover price.