As I continue romping through my archives, I came across these two examples of Lady’s Slipper beauty from 5 years ago. May is not that far off and it’s about time I paid them another visit. I photographed one here in the yard two years ago but it didn’t survive and at $60 a pop I won’t be planting another so it’s off to the woods I’ll go.
These are on a Mass Audubon property that was given to the society by the former owner who lovingly cared for the land and made sure it would stay wild by his donation. In addition to these woodland species, accompanied by Pink Lady’s Slippers, there are other orchids in a swamp although I have yet to visit that. Maybe this year. Plenty of other plants and attractions. And my Gravatar doppelganger hangs out there along this trail so maybe he’s still looking good. 🙂
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Wonderful. We usually only see the pink variety in MN, but we may be arriving too late this year–if our travel plans work out. Here’s hoping.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope your planned trip back to MN works out. I am sure you are longing to be there after such a long absence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are realy twoo top shots of my most favo orchid ! My compliments 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rudi! They are among my favorites too.
LikeLike
The closeup is yummy. Speaking of which, it could be a stomach or a heart.
Happy prospective swamp visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Back in the old NatureScapes days there was an eccentric fellow who called himself Possum, if you ran across him while you were there, in the macro forum and he saw these as a very different body part.
LikeLike
Look at the etymology of orchid for a confirmation of why he saw it that way:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/orchid
LikeLike
That may or may not be how he came to that visualization. His choice of word was scrotum (interestingly spellcheck doesn’t recognize that word) but he is/was a clever fellow and may have known the etymology. I didn’t so thanks…I think. Kind of gives one strange thoughts about such a thing being a lady’s slipper.
LikeLike
Now that your thoughts about the name lady’s slipper have started you down a slippery anatomical slope, check out another botanical etymology, the one for avocado:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/avocado
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are a few names like that for a variety of fruits and vegetables.
LikeLike
Beautiful! My father and I actually went hiking this past weekend looking for the early signs of Lady’s Slippers. Unfortunately, the area where we found them last year was massively damaged over the winter with lots of downed trees, mostly softwoods, and the majority of areas we’d found the flowers are now under debris. But I did find one location that was still open and happened to see about 1/2″ of emerging green that I believe might be a Lady’s Slipper. I hope to keep going back and watching its progress.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I hope your guess as to the sprout’s identity is correct and you get to see and photograph a lady’s slipper. Plants are pretty persistent in their quest for light so some of the others may fight their way through the debris.
LikeLike
Beautiful orchids… I’ve only seen the pink in the wild. The yellow would be astonishing to see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Eliza! I’d be glad to show you where they grow and, hopefully, they will be there for you to enjoy. Some years people cut them and other years the deer do. You might have to get up before noon. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you are a tease! Visions of May are now dancing in my head… :). How I wish I’d see the pink ones in the wild, but these are really neat as well. Funny how many people are seeing only the pink ones. I agree with Steve as to the yumminess of the closeup. Mmmmmm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pink lady’s slippers are what we see here mostly. These are on what used to be private property and I’ve never learned whether the owners who donated the land to Mass Audubon planted them or if they are there naturally. They did a lot of work creating trails so may have planted a lot of what grows there. Thanks, Melissa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here, we see only yellow. Last summer some restoration work was being done, thinning a crowd of cattails, and a whole new colony was discovered. Much happiness ensued. 🙂
Me, I’ve always preferred pink to yellow and it saddens me that so many of the native flowers here in the Midwest are yellow. Boo! Hiss! Oh well. Enjoy your pink orchids for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall…and I shall share them here for you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow! What a remarkable discovery in your archives, Steve! It reminded me to dig in my archives for little treasures among the thousands of photos I collected during my lifetime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Over the years a lot of images are forgotten. It’s nice to rediscover them and make them look even better with the new skills we acquire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lady’s slippers is such a sweet common name and the flower is gorgeous! Lovely photo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tina! The name and the flower are so enjoyable.
LikeLike
The closeup reminds me of a wineskin: appropriate, perhaps, given the intoxicating beauty of the image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good alternate vision along with Steve’s organic view. These are such beauties. The rich yellow can be a challenge to expose properly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both views are exquisite, Steve.
LikeLike
Thanks, Tanja!
LikeLike
Great images Steve! Enjoyed seeing them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Reed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, pricey! Good luck in the woods!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, I’ll spend my money on less difficult to grow plants. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people