Szakadáti Pasture Nature Conservation Area

 nature conservation park / area, orchid farm

Mentioning orchids most people will think about the large ravishing flowers of tropical areas. However, others who know and are fond of nature, will be aware that native species of orchids – e.g. early spider-orchid, military orchid – though smaller, are not less pretty than their tropical counterparts. But there are orchids which are not easy to notice even for nature conscious people.
A tiny white flower – plain-looking from the distance – blooms on just a few hundred square m hill side used for grazing sheep beside Szakadát, in one of the valleys of the Tolna hill country: the autumn lady's tresses (Spiranthes spiralis). Unbelievable it may be, but this tiny little flower is an orchid, anybody can judge for themselves by taking a closer look at the little, white flowers (sometimes with a purplish shade) running spirally around the almost ten cm tall stem. The loess lawn of the Szakadát hills is an ideal habitat for this little humble orchid. Moreover, they are taken care of by sheep, which eat off all their rivals. The autumn lady's tresses bloom at the end of August or beginning of September, when the scent of the flowers of the stand consisting almost of five hundred stems lingers over this corner of the valley.

www.foek.hu/zsibongo/termve/tt/angtt/szakadat.htm