One of the special flowers of Lesbos is the Lesbos orchid; if you're a splitter, it's scientific name is Ophrys lesbis, else it's Ophrys argiolica lesbis. Regardless its taxonomic status, it's found only on a few localities, Lesbos being one on these. Our first search was unsuccessful, but the natural history guide I relied on informs the reader that it can be found in the "petrified forest" geological park, open from March onwards - that is, open during the flowering season of the rare orchid. So today was our second attempt to find the orchid. Only, the geo-park wasn't open when we arrived... As the park is really well-fenced, there is no chance to sneak in via the back door. Therefore I looked around the direct neighbourhood of the park, but to no avail. Too bad, so sad - after a while you just have to decide to move on. We drove a while to go south for another location high-lighted in the guide, but then I decided to stop to inspect some fields with a little bit higher vegetation than elsewhere. The second field I walked around presented a big surprise: a few flowering plants of the elusive Lesbos orchis, somewhat damaged by browsing sheep or goats, but with some fine flowers as well. Following well-trodden trails may often yield what you were looking for, but there is little surprise in this. My find of today was much more rewarding, as it was unforeseen - we might have stumbled upon an unknown location for this orchid.
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