Orchid meadows near Zafarraya, Granada Province.

Orchids and the Guadia.

Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertiana).

After a day down on the coast we returned home via Zafarraya and several good orchid sites, the first stop was at a large area of rocky grassland which had a good display of Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum Robertiana) and a single Fan-lipped Orchid (Orchis Collina), I had hoped to see more but after the wet cold winter I think some species are going to be later flowering this year. 

We continued on and made several more stops but only the same two species were seen. 

At the final site I was taking some photographs of the location when a Guadia Civil 4X4 pulled up and the officers asked if we were having any problems. 

I explained to them I was photographing Orchids, the one policeman did not think any orchids grew in the area but within minutes him and the second officer were both taking an interest and looking at Fan-lipped and Giant Orchid a site I never thought I would see!