Alpine Flower a Day: Hatch's Sun Orchid

Alpine Flower a Day: Day 12, Hatch's Sun Orchid (Thelymitra hatchii)

– about 6cm tall, flower about 1.5 cm wide

– Jan 2020 1000-acre plateau, Kahurangi National Park

Note that thelymitra apparently derives from Ancient Greek – thelys for 'woman' and mitra for 'hat'!

Woman's hat

to be or to be outstanding?

have or not have a protector?

elephants have detective skin

little penguins sport a closed thatch

yellow babies need no curtain

my babies will not be yeller

i have red pigments in my outer layers

tickled pink tickled to death

rather better to wear

an orchid on my head

If you're interested in the inspiration behind this month-long series of 'An Alpine Flower A Day' about NZ alpine flowers and poems, you can find more in my first post: An Alpine Flower A Day Enjoy!