Did you know? Orchids belong to one of the most diverse plant families. Thousands of species are found across the world, mainly in tropical regions. But they are present on every continent, as far as Greenland! You have almost certainly enjoyed the fruit of the only edible orchid: Vanilla.
France is fortunate to have 160 recorded varieties. The Drôme, with its diverse relief and climate, is home to many varieties, and around forty of them have made Les Monts du Matin their home.
Les Monts du Matin
[caption id="attachment_7446" align="alignleft" width="146"]
Monkey orchid© Jean-Marc Sallée[/caption]
With the return of spring, bringing its mix of rain and sunshine, it is the perfect time to go out and discover those fascinating flowers: orchids.
Les Monts du Matin are situated between the Valence plain and the Vercors. These limestone slopes, located between plain and mountain, shelter dry grasslands that are a paradise for our orchids.
On this easy, accessible terrain, open to all, I will take you to discover these delightful and wonderful flowers.
A thousand and one orchids…
[caption id="attachment_7441" align="alignleft" width="185"]
Are they insects? Or flowers?No! They are bee orchids!
© Jean-Marc Sallée[/caption]
Discreet, green or dark in colour, playing hide-and-seek with us, orchids surprise us around the corner of a bush — a true delight. You need a keen eye to spot them!
Others, by contrast, dress themselves in colour and rise tall on their stems. All eyes are drawn to them and they can be spotted from afar, like little figures teasing us.
Some species have unusual shapes that we will discover over the course of a relaxed afternoon. On a roughly three-hour outing, we will set off to discover these strange flowers with their surprising names: Military orchid, Ophrys of the Drôme, Hanging Man, Goat orchid, Cephalanthera, Violet limodore, Small-leaved helleborine …
Come and unmask them with me, and learn to recognise them!
Observing wildlife and flora
[caption id="attachment_7454" align="alignleft" width="251"]
Green lizard © Jean-Marc Sallée[/caption]
I invite you on a hiking tour to discover this wonderful flora, focusing in particular on orchids, but we will also take an interest in the other plants among which we will almost certainly encounter and observe butterflies, spiders and all manner of insects — or their predators, such as this beautiful green lizard. And if we're lucky, why not roe deer or chamois! Keep your eyes wide open!
Feel free to visit my website and get in touch to find out more: www.jmsallee.fr
Looking forward to meeting you, Jean-Marc, your Mountain Guide.
Did you enjoy this article? Share your thoughts on the CimAlp Facebook page and spread the word — let the world know about your passion for hiking and the great outdoors! .
