June Orchids

On this first day of summer, when we begin the long, slow trek to winter, I am showing some old orchid friends that I visited in June.

I visited a population of Showy Lady Slippers during the first week of June. I hiked up in a thunderstorm but it was well worth it.

Then in mid June, I visited the population of Appalachian Twayblades near my home. I thought I would be able to find some not quite as deep in the Rhododendron Hell that I struggled through the last time. (See this Link)

This one had a pollinia attached to its petal that was dropped by a potential pollinator

Loesel's Twayblade 

I was also watching a  Loesel's Twayblade, but it was cut by an unknow insect just as it was in full bloom. I did get a decent picture.








This happened also to another orchid that I have not positively identified. It looks like the large pad leaf orchid in my area but with more oval leaves and waxy, heavy looking flowers. I saw it several years ago and did not get a picture and it had a nice spike this year but was cut off clean..

 Part of a huge patch of Blue Eyed Grass that I can see the blue color of from
a couple hundred yards 

Beautiful Florida Flower