Late for early purple

Usually, at this time of year, we can be sure of seeing some early purple orchids on the Wenlock Edge, but this afternoon, along the ridge path from Presthope towards Wenlock, there were none. Not a trace of them! Are they late this year, or is it us? There will be others later – pyramids and common spotted (dozens of the latter coming up in the grass in our back garden). We’ll be back! There’s plenty of other interest along the way, close at hand and in the more distant landscape, on this watercolour day.