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Orchid Summer: In Search of the Wildest Flowers of the British Isles
A heady celebration of the beauty and history of the wild orchid species of the British Isles, embraced in one glorious and kaleidoscopic summer-long hunt by naturalist Jon Dunn
From the chalk downs of the south coast of England to the heathery moorland of the Shetland Isles, and from the holy island of Lindisfarne in the east to the Atlantic frontier of western Ireland, Orchid Summer is a journey into Britain and Ireland's most beautiful corners. The flowers that are the focus of this treasure hunt are exquisite and diverse. Some resemble insects and develop scents that mimic the smell of a virgin female wasp in order to lure male wasps to sample their unsatisfying charms. Some tower above the surrounding vegetation; others are vanishingly small and discrete. Some are sweetly scented; others smell of ripe billy goats. Some can be readily found but some will prove more elusive - none more so than the last to flower, the rarest of them all, the ghost orchid...
Capturing the intoxicating beauty of these rare and charismatic flowers, Orchid Summer is also an exploration of their history, their champions, their place in our landscape and the threats they face. Combining infectious enthusiasm and a painterly eye with a deep knowledge that comes from a lifetime's passionate devotion to their study, Dunn sweeps us up on his adventure, one from which it is impossible not to emerge enchanted and enriched.
From the chalk downs of the south coast of England to the heathery moorland of the Shetland Isles, and from the holy island of Lindisfarne in the east to the Atlantic frontier of western Ireland, Orchid Summer is a journey into Britain and Ireland's most beautiful corners. The flowers that are the focus of this treasure hunt are exquisite and diverse. Some resemble insects and develop scents that mimic the smell of a virgin female wasp in order to lure male wasps to sample their unsatisfying charms. Some tower above the surrounding vegetation; others are vanishingly small and discrete. Some are sweetly scented; others smell of ripe billy goats. Some can be readily found but some will prove more elusive - none more so than the last to flower, the rarest of them all, the ghost orchid...
Capturing the intoxicating beauty of these rare and charismatic flowers, Orchid Summer is also an exploration of their history, their champions, their place in our landscape and the threats they face. Combining infectious enthusiasm and a painterly eye with a deep knowledge that comes from a lifetime's passionate devotion to their study, Dunn sweeps us up on his adventure, one from which it is impossible not to emerge enchanted and enriched.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published June 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 20, 2022
(3.5) Dunn saw all but one of Britain’s native species of orchid (51–55, depending on how you count; subspecies are still being debated) between the spring and autumn of 2016; only the ghost orchid eluded him. He alternates between his whistlestop travels, the backstory to his nature obsession, and the historical and cultural associations with orchids. “I was rapidly learning that orchids exert an influence unlike any other plant upon those who fall under their spell, he writes” (in that vein, I also recommend Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief).
I most enjoyed the chapters set in North Uist – where he goes to find the Hebridean marsh orchid – and his adopted home of Shetland; it’s always fun to read about somewhere I am or have been before (also including Lindisfarne). The number-driven quest seems like a peculiarly male undertaking, e.g. the similar The Butterfly Isles by Patrick Barkham, and orchids in particular are surrounded by secrecy – you have to be in the know to locate rarities, which often seem to be in roadside ditches. Dunn evades potential accusations of elitism or machismo, though, by recounting vulnerable moments: when he inadvertently strayed onto a golf course and got verbally abused; when some lads stopped their car to harass him.
In general, this is denser with information than all but the keenest amateur botanists need, so I didn’t engage with it as much as his book about hummingbirds, The Glitter in the Green, but Dunn is a top-class nature and travel writer who really brings places and species to life on the page through his enthusiastic descriptions. Still, I wish this could have been illustrated with colour plates, as the author is an equally accomplished photographer.
I most enjoyed the chapters set in North Uist – where he goes to find the Hebridean marsh orchid – and his adopted home of Shetland; it’s always fun to read about somewhere I am or have been before (also including Lindisfarne). The number-driven quest seems like a peculiarly male undertaking, e.g. the similar The Butterfly Isles by Patrick Barkham, and orchids in particular are surrounded by secrecy – you have to be in the know to locate rarities, which often seem to be in roadside ditches. Dunn evades potential accusations of elitism or machismo, though, by recounting vulnerable moments: when he inadvertently strayed onto a golf course and got verbally abused; when some lads stopped their car to harass him.
In general, this is denser with information than all but the keenest amateur botanists need, so I didn’t engage with it as much as his book about hummingbirds, The Glitter in the Green, but Dunn is a top-class nature and travel writer who really brings places and species to life on the page through his enthusiastic descriptions. Still, I wish this could have been illustrated with colour plates, as the author is an equally accomplished photographer.
July 24, 2018
I really struggled with this book, much to my surprise. The design and illustration of the cover, by Holly Ovenden is beautiful, the premise of the book, to go looking for British wild orchids attractive. Jon Dunn's descriptions should easily be good enough to compensate for the lack of photographs or other illustrations. Overall it seemed to lack something. There was leaven... many interesting encounters and locations... there was the disturbing abuse, the little girl who picked an orchid in front of him, the reference to 'the Birkdale nightingale'. He describes so well the physicality of the experience, whether that's tick and midge bites or lying prone on a variety of surfaces to get down to his tiny subjects' level. There's plenty of science and history and 'Botanists Behaving Badly'. Maybe it was just me.
March 26, 2019
There are countless varieties of Orchid across the world and we are fortunate in the UK that we have around 50 odd species here. They vary from tiny example a few centimetres high to magnificent flower spikes that can reach much higher than the surrounding vegetation. They vary hugely, some are strongly perfumed, some smell rank and others are scented to attract a particular type of insect. The flowers are the thing that makes the orchid unique though, spectacular petals, mimicry of insects and gorgeous colours. They truly are a plant that are is rewarding to find and they seem to attract obsessive types (mostly men) who are utterly besotted with these beguiling plants. Jon Dunn is one of these who considers himself an addict.
To satisfy this addiction he decides to take himself on a mission to see all the species in the UK. This will take him from the Dorset coast, over the South Downs, up into Scotland and to the wild coastline of Western Ireland and back home to the very Northern Isles of our country. However, there is to this than the obsession of one man travelling backwards and forwards across the country in search of them. Some of these are really common, anyone with a small amount of research can find hundreds in the right location. Others though are much rarer, locations are often secret and frequently protected from those that seek to have these for themselves. As he ticks them off the list he tells the stories behind each one of these elusive and beautiful plants.
It is an enjoyable book about one slightly obsessed man's quest to see and photograph every species of orchid in the UK and a brief sojourn to New York. It reminded me of The Orchid Hunter where Leif Bersweden undertakes a very similar pilgrimage to find the same plants. One to read if you have a general interest in plants and botany, and has a stunning cover. If there is one thing that lets the book down is that there are no photos. Thankfully they are available on Jon's website here (http://www.orchid-summer.com/orchid-s...), and they are a stunning set of images.
To satisfy this addiction he decides to take himself on a mission to see all the species in the UK. This will take him from the Dorset coast, over the South Downs, up into Scotland and to the wild coastline of Western Ireland and back home to the very Northern Isles of our country. However, there is to this than the obsession of one man travelling backwards and forwards across the country in search of them. Some of these are really common, anyone with a small amount of research can find hundreds in the right location. Others though are much rarer, locations are often secret and frequently protected from those that seek to have these for themselves. As he ticks them off the list he tells the stories behind each one of these elusive and beautiful plants.
It is an enjoyable book about one slightly obsessed man's quest to see and photograph every species of orchid in the UK and a brief sojourn to New York. It reminded me of The Orchid Hunter where Leif Bersweden undertakes a very similar pilgrimage to find the same plants. One to read if you have a general interest in plants and botany, and has a stunning cover. If there is one thing that lets the book down is that there are no photos. Thankfully they are available on Jon's website here (http://www.orchid-summer.com/orchid-s...), and they are a stunning set of images.
August 26, 2018
It's a real oversight that this book does not have pictures, especially since the author describes in great detail his photography of every orchid he sees. Why not put these in the book? It annoyed me having to constantly refer to a book or Google to see what Orchid the author was talking about.
Overall it's a well written, interesting book if a little hyperbolic sometimes. If you were to have a drink every time the author 'falls to his hands and knees' in awe or recounts how he was 'shaking' with excitement when finding a particular orchid you'd end up very drunk indeed.
Overall it's a well written, interesting book if a little hyperbolic sometimes. If you were to have a drink every time the author 'falls to his hands and knees' in awe or recounts how he was 'shaking' with excitement when finding a particular orchid you'd end up very drunk indeed.
February 7, 2025
This well-written natural history of the orchids of Britain was joyful and unique. The author’s passion for orchids was physically palpable on each page and his historical knowledge was impressive. While I do think the writing would have been enhanced by the author’s photography (since he mentions his camera on every page), this summer journey would make a wonderful gift for any orchid enthusiast.
March 17, 2018
Undoubtedly the best "nature" book I have read (and I read many, I am a biologist by profession) in a very long time. Jon Dunn is perhaps one of the best writers in this genre that we have. Here he follows the self-imposed challenge of seeing every one of the native orchids of the United Kingdom in a single year - this sort of challenge is well known to birders but quite original for botanists and far from easy to succeed at. With the exception of one enigmatic species he was successful. His detailed descriptions of journeys and individual flowers are stupendous but for the non-expert could become a little dry - that's the nature of nature writing - were the text not leavened with fascinating discourses on people and places. His five or six page summary of the Heslop-Harrison botanical fraud committed on the Isle of Rhum does not supplant the book on the that subject but is a fine condensation of the essentials. I am envious of Dunn's achievements. A fine book that I commend to anyone and everyone.
March 3, 2025
I loved this book - even if you don't read it you must look at the fabulous accompanying photos which have been posted here http://www.orchid-summer.com/orchid-s...
John Dunn spends a summer tracking down all the orchid species in the British Isles. They are beautiful, intoxicating flowers and Dunn goes to great lengths to track them down. He tells interesting, and often amusing, stories about his travels and the people that he meets. We also read about legends as he travels the length and breath of the B. Isles
John Dunn spends a summer tracking down all the orchid species in the British Isles. They are beautiful, intoxicating flowers and Dunn goes to great lengths to track them down. He tells interesting, and often amusing, stories about his travels and the people that he meets. We also read about legends as he travels the length and breath of the B. Isles
November 23, 2018
29th Book of 2018
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - A heady celebration of the beauty and history of the wild orchid species of the British Isles embraced in one glorious and kaleidoscopic summer-long hunt by naturalist Jon Dunn
From the chalk downs of the south coast of England to the heathery moorland of the Shetland Isles, and from the holy island of Lindisfarne in the east to the Atlantic frontier of western Ireland, Orchid Summer is a journey into Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful corners. The flowers that are the focus of this treasure hunt are exquisite and diverse. Some resemble insects and develop scents that mimic the smell of a virgin female wasp in order to lure male wasps to sample their unsatisfying charms. Some tower above the surrounding vegetation; others are vanishingly small and discrete. Some are sweetly scented; others smell of ripe billy goats. Some can be readily found but some will prove more elusive – none more so than the last to flower, the rarest of them all, the ghost orchid…
My Review - The book is all about Orchids, one of the most beautiful species of Flower. The author ‘Jon Dunn’ being a Naturalist himself have written very brilliantly about these Species. In this book, he takes on a journey throughout the Britain and Ireland to explore as many as Orchid Bloom he can in one complete flowering Season. He starts by describing how he got so fascinated by this species of flower and how he developed more and more interest in them. He starts off his journey from the same place, exploring and looking for the same flower he found a few decades ago. Also, it turns out the Orchid he found first on his expedition was a relative of the same plant he found decades ago, The Purple Orchid.
The book takes you on the expedition with the Author himself, exploring and discovering various different Orchids via traveling through the Britain Isles.
The book is a very handy and deeply informative for all Nature enthusiast searching for an Imaginative and Visually enchanting tale – In Search of the Wildest Flowers of British Isles’.
(P.s. The Uncorrected Proof copy of this book was sent to me by the Publisher for Review and I’m thankful for them to send this my way.)
Conclusion - Informative as well as a Descriptive book for all Nature lovers especially those who love Orchids.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - A heady celebration of the beauty and history of the wild orchid species of the British Isles embraced in one glorious and kaleidoscopic summer-long hunt by naturalist Jon Dunn
From the chalk downs of the south coast of England to the heathery moorland of the Shetland Isles, and from the holy island of Lindisfarne in the east to the Atlantic frontier of western Ireland, Orchid Summer is a journey into Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful corners. The flowers that are the focus of this treasure hunt are exquisite and diverse. Some resemble insects and develop scents that mimic the smell of a virgin female wasp in order to lure male wasps to sample their unsatisfying charms. Some tower above the surrounding vegetation; others are vanishingly small and discrete. Some are sweetly scented; others smell of ripe billy goats. Some can be readily found but some will prove more elusive – none more so than the last to flower, the rarest of them all, the ghost orchid…
My Review - The book is all about Orchids, one of the most beautiful species of Flower. The author ‘Jon Dunn’ being a Naturalist himself have written very brilliantly about these Species. In this book, he takes on a journey throughout the Britain and Ireland to explore as many as Orchid Bloom he can in one complete flowering Season. He starts by describing how he got so fascinated by this species of flower and how he developed more and more interest in them. He starts off his journey from the same place, exploring and looking for the same flower he found a few decades ago. Also, it turns out the Orchid he found first on his expedition was a relative of the same plant he found decades ago, The Purple Orchid.
The book takes you on the expedition with the Author himself, exploring and discovering various different Orchids via traveling through the Britain Isles.
The book is a very handy and deeply informative for all Nature enthusiast searching for an Imaginative and Visually enchanting tale – In Search of the Wildest Flowers of British Isles’.
(P.s. The Uncorrected Proof copy of this book was sent to me by the Publisher for Review and I’m thankful for them to send this my way.)
Conclusion - Informative as well as a Descriptive book for all Nature lovers especially those who love Orchids.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
April 16, 2018
I adore books on botanicals, and Orchid Summer by Jon Dunn most definitely did not disappoint.
I understand that this may not be a topic that appeals to everyone, but if you have any interest in botanicals, especially orchids, you need to pick up a copy of this book.
Jon's quest to see every orchid native to the British Isles in a single year is both educational and thoroughly captivating.
I'm in love with this subject even more than before, and if you know me at all you will know thats a lot!
I understand that this may not be a topic that appeals to everyone, but if you have any interest in botanicals, especially orchids, you need to pick up a copy of this book.
Jon's quest to see every orchid native to the British Isles in a single year is both educational and thoroughly captivating.
I'm in love with this subject even more than before, and if you know me at all you will know thats a lot!
October 20, 2021
Dunn relates his explorations over a year in his endeavour to see all of the orchids of Britain. While this is a book most likely to be of interest to persons having a fascination with terrestrial orchids, the author does bring out the beauty of these often miniature plants. Along the way, he looks at issues such as their ecosystems, changing distribution over time and conservation issues.
He describes the pollination mechanisms of terrestrial orchids and of orchids in general, included the intricacies of the placement of the pollina so that they will be positioned correctly for pollination of the next orchid visited. He describes the Euglossene bees and their use of orchid scents for attracting their own mates, using leks as the basis for sexual competition.
Dunn relates the curious story of John Heslop-Harrison, a botanist who visited Rum Island which was controlled by the Bullough family who allowed little access to the island. Based on his fieldwork, he published papers documenting the existence of various orchids that would be well out of their normal range. Eventually, John Raven was able to make a clandestine visit and reported that the orchids were in disturbed soil. Moreover, the presence of non-native allseed suggested that the plants had come from a garden or nursery.
The coralroots are interesting in that they are saprophytic. The rhizome is a branched, creamy mass of knobs and protrusions. The only time the orchid appears above ground is when it throws up a flower spike. They draw carbohydrates from the surrounding creeping willows via the mycorrhizal fungal interface, but give nothing in return to the fungi.
Epipactis is noted for its "most refined and fastidious of palates", being found in association with truffles in Beech forest.
Dunn finishes his book with his unsuccessful search for the ghost orchid (Epipogium aphyllum). Very rare as it is only found in coniferous forests in association with fungi of the genus Inocybe.
He describes the pollination mechanisms of terrestrial orchids and of orchids in general, included the intricacies of the placement of the pollina so that they will be positioned correctly for pollination of the next orchid visited. He describes the Euglossene bees and their use of orchid scents for attracting their own mates, using leks as the basis for sexual competition.
Dunn relates the curious story of John Heslop-Harrison, a botanist who visited Rum Island which was controlled by the Bullough family who allowed little access to the island. Based on his fieldwork, he published papers documenting the existence of various orchids that would be well out of their normal range. Eventually, John Raven was able to make a clandestine visit and reported that the orchids were in disturbed soil. Moreover, the presence of non-native allseed suggested that the plants had come from a garden or nursery.
The coralroots are interesting in that they are saprophytic. The rhizome is a branched, creamy mass of knobs and protrusions. The only time the orchid appears above ground is when it throws up a flower spike. They draw carbohydrates from the surrounding creeping willows via the mycorrhizal fungal interface, but give nothing in return to the fungi.
Epipactis is noted for its "most refined and fastidious of palates", being found in association with truffles in Beech forest.
Dunn finishes his book with his unsuccessful search for the ghost orchid (Epipogium aphyllum). Very rare as it is only found in coniferous forests in association with fungi of the genus Inocybe.
May 3, 2022
Wonderful writing about beautiful flowers. I learnt a lot and have been enjoying dabbling in orchid-admiration and spotting since.
Two criticisms: there's a brief ancedote about how Jon Dunn is heckled by some passing aggressive men for being "girly" and looking at flowers in a field - there is a little reflection by him afterwards about how privileged he is in that he's actually a heterosexual man, but I really wish male naturalists could gain a notion of how much female safety restricts women's access to nature - you can feel so unsafe being in natural spaces by yourself.
Second criticism - Dunn flies and drives all over the British Isles in order to "catch them all" in a year. It's so environmentally unfriendly, and there's a real disconnect that his actions and unquestioned normalised needless driving leads to so much damage of the natural world he loves. As someone who loves nature and does not drive, I can appreciate that it can be difficult to access natural spaces by public transport/bike/foot, but drivers and fliers who love nature at least need to acknowledge the damage they're doing to what they love.
Two criticisms: there's a brief ancedote about how Jon Dunn is heckled by some passing aggressive men for being "girly" and looking at flowers in a field - there is a little reflection by him afterwards about how privileged he is in that he's actually a heterosexual man, but I really wish male naturalists could gain a notion of how much female safety restricts women's access to nature - you can feel so unsafe being in natural spaces by yourself.
Second criticism - Dunn flies and drives all over the British Isles in order to "catch them all" in a year. It's so environmentally unfriendly, and there's a real disconnect that his actions and unquestioned normalised needless driving leads to so much damage of the natural world he loves. As someone who loves nature and does not drive, I can appreciate that it can be difficult to access natural spaces by public transport/bike/foot, but drivers and fliers who love nature at least need to acknowledge the damage they're doing to what they love.
May 20, 2022
I DNF'd this one a few chapters in.
I think I have the same issue as other reviewers here, in that there are no photographs at all of the beautiful sounding orchids that Dunn comes across. The description of a flower just doesn't cut the mustard really, we need to be seeing these lovely specimens, in colour, on the page.
As much as I love plants, wildlife and nature, I think the narrow range of subject matter in this book starts to become a little tiresome, tedious and repetitive. Shame really. This could have a been much more fulfilling read.
I think I have the same issue as other reviewers here, in that there are no photographs at all of the beautiful sounding orchids that Dunn comes across. The description of a flower just doesn't cut the mustard really, we need to be seeing these lovely specimens, in colour, on the page.
As much as I love plants, wildlife and nature, I think the narrow range of subject matter in this book starts to become a little tiresome, tedious and repetitive. Shame really. This could have a been much more fulfilling read.
May 12, 2026
A book that desperately needs photos to complete. Started great but I dnf after it got a bit heavy and didn't engage me. Shame as beautiful cover and I enjoyed the beginning.
August 19, 2021
Orchid Summer: In search of the wildest flowers of the British Isles.
"Capturing the intoxicating beauty of these rare and charismatic flowers."
Orchids and summer... two of my favourite things. A lovely, lyrical read. Highly recommended.
"Capturing the intoxicating beauty of these rare and charismatic flowers."
Orchids and summer... two of my favourite things. A lovely, lyrical read. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2020
I always find it harder to talk about non-fiction. Mostly because I can find any subject interesting if it’s teaching me new things in a way that isn’t just a list of facts.
The book chronicles the authors mission to see all of the native orchids to the British isles. In truth, I didn’t even know there were orchids native to Britain, assuming they were more tropical, or found in Marks and Spencer’s plant section. I enjoyed the weaving of the history of specific species in with the travels and encounters with them. It’s a shame the book doesn’t have the photos in them, however you can view them on his website, which I did, along side reading them. It helped give the descriptions context for me. I’d recommend it if you think it’s your thing.
The book chronicles the authors mission to see all of the native orchids to the British isles. In truth, I didn’t even know there were orchids native to Britain, assuming they were more tropical, or found in Marks and Spencer’s plant section. I enjoyed the weaving of the history of specific species in with the travels and encounters with them. It’s a shame the book doesn’t have the photos in them, however you can view them on his website, which I did, along side reading them. It helped give the descriptions context for me. I’d recommend it if you think it’s your thing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews