It was a rainy, rainy, foggy day, which made the open spaces mystical. The botanical offerings were outstanding, as you will see. If we had to be wet, at least it was great to find such wonderful things.
I find yellow lady slipper orchid regularly Cypripedium calceolus, but I liked how this group looks hiding in the fluffy horsetail.
Another big surprise was the wood lily Lilium philadelphicum. We have seen lots of it in North Dakota but there it was short- about one foot high. I've never seen it in Michigan before, but it was growing in lots of places, and tall- two to three feet. It's the only wild, spotted lily that faces upward. And then... I thought I had gone straight to Nirvana!
I have NEVER seen this orchid before. It's the largest of the northern orchids, showy lady's slipper, Cypripedium reginae. And we saw them everywhere! They were growing in all the special, rich boggy places you would expect, but even in the roadside ditches like weeds! We could hardly believe how many we saw. It's about two feet tall, and the leaves and stems are hairy. Want to see it closer? OK.
There is so much to show you from this day that I think I will break it up and come back tomorrow, rather than post so many pictures that you skip them.
The trail was well-cleared and marked, so the only real problem was that we were SOAKING wet.
Love that first picture with the fog in the background. I agree it does have a mystical look to it. The lilies are gorgeous. I especially like the last one.
ReplyDeleteWow, those lady slippers are gorgeous! You take very good photos! The second to the last with the foreground is so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteThese are some of the best flowers I've seen. I like wild flowers like these better than the kind that grow in a garden. I guess I like wild everything best.
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about plants and seeing these have made my day, what a find, so I can imagine how you felt. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh, I cannot believe all the beautiful treasures you found in the woods! Those orchids are
ReplyDeletesuch beauties! All the colors and variety are amazing!
The lady slipper orchids are beautiful! Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteAnn- It seems almost sacrilegious to see those beautiful plants growing in ditches where the road mowers would just cut them down.
ReplyDeleteTes- I, too, love how that group of orchids is sort of hiding in the trees.
Ratty- yup, I'm all for wild stuff too (but I confess to enjoying gardening too whent I stay home enough)
Carol- I knew you would like them! I hope to be caught up soon, and be back to visit your rambles, too.
Carmen- the variety of plant forms in the world is so great, it's almost unbelievable
Loretta- See... another reason you should have chosen NORTH... just teasing.
What a beautiful trail! And the pictures are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen... well tended trail gives one time to look for all the other goodies!
ReplyDelete