There are a lot of Grass Pinks right now and it’s pretty hard to say “Well, I’ve already shot a bunch” when there are so many and different enough to keep making images. Kind of like the Painted Trilliums or bullfrogs.
This morning I returned to MacLeod Field and there were dozens of these orchids by the not very well-worn path along the edge of the field. You might be able to tell that it rained a little earlier and as a result I got soaked up to my hips despite the Muckboots which just go to below my knees. I imagine a few folks looked at me a bit askance when I ran the errands afterwards.
Grass Pink-Calopogon tuberosus aka Tuberous Grass Pink. This orchid is found throughout the eastern U.S. and much of the central as well. This plant has developed a unique pollination strategy tricking the visiting bee into thinking the hairs located on the upper lip are pollen holding stamens. This video demonstrates how that works. Sometimes you might come across one of these flowers with the upper lip hanging down onto the curved sexual organ where pollination happens after a bee visit. That’s likely what happened with the bloom at the lower right.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
This one is realy awesome but I’m afraid I will never see it in real 😉 Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Good reason for a long boat ride, Rudi. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How have I missed seeing this flower all these years? Love the pollination strategy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be glad to show them to you if you want to visit Amherst.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just ’cause we’ve photographed a species once or twice or twenty times is no reason not to photograph it again, especially if we can find novel ways to do so.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Truth.
LikeLike
I wonder if the flower outsmarts the pollinator, or the pollinator the flower. No matter, it’s a win-win situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the flower is the winner here as the pollen ends up on the bee’s back where it doesn’t get to eat it. Maximum transfer to the next flower. Of course it is win-win…if you mean the flower and me. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, of course. That’s exactly what I meant. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pretty and very pink orchid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alessandra!
LikeLike
Fabulous composition with the raindrops decorating the flower!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Peter.
LikeLike
The depth of color is remarkable. Do these fade a bit with age? The ones I’ve found in the past are a much lighter pink — although there could be any number of reasons for that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do pale as they age and some are lighter shades from the start. I did photograph a couple on this day that were not as richly colored and might post another down the road.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunningly beautiful! Love the detail of the raindrops too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ann! Rain or dew drops are always a plus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orchids are always such curious flowers, especially when it comes to pollination. And I certainly know what you mean about continuing to shoot them no matter how many you’ve already shot. And that thought brings to mind a discussion I once had with a photographer out in the field who focuses on birds. He made a comment at some point about not photographing some species because he’s already photographed them. I told him I’ve never been able to stop photographing them because I never know when I might create a better or interestingly different photo than any I’d already made. Granted, it does make for lots of photos to go through later, but I’m ok with that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t mind at all shooting the same subject repeatedly for the reasons you mentioned to the other photographer. One of my favorite quotes is from Pablo Casals, the amazing cellist. When asked why in his 80’s he still continued to practice his response was that he thought he was making improvement. Perfection is rarely achieved so its pursuit is a worthy journey. I have images that I don’t think I can improve upon but I still try.
LikeLike