A Bounty of Native Orchids and Wildflowers: Big Ivy in June

Big Ivy trails are worth revisiting to capture the full spectrum of wildflowers blooming between early and late spring. Every section of this trail in the Appalachian Ranger District showcases wildflowers that are either winding down and setting seed, or beginning their transformation to full bloom. Finding native orchids is always a bonus! We started out before 9am to avoid the heat of the day, and were rewarded by the presence of Small Purple-Fringed Orchid.

Audacious and herbaceous…

Early on, we spotted this Skullcap, nestled high on the rocks above us, reaching for some sunlight in a wet and shady section of the trail.

This 9 mile hike gets the blood pumping with steep uphill sections, and at the top of our first climb, we were rewarded by the eye-popping blooms of Fire Pink. To see other spring wildflowers found in Big Ivy, visit https://hikescape.org/i-like-big-blooms-theyve-sprung-at-big-ivy/

Solomon’s Seal, while not uncommon, always provides variety throughout wildflower season. It has nearly reached its full height, arching gracefully above many other herbaceous plants. The clusters of pendulous flowers hide beneath the leaves.

Flowering raspberry shows off its fluorescent magenta color; unlike many native berries, the stems are not thorny.

Goat’s beard…what a name!

This perennial is often abundant in the herbaceous layer, sporting fuzzy bottle brush-type white flowers. They stand out in the greenery of the forest, easily catching one’s eye. While their flowers fade to a yellowish hue, their striking white racemes are beautiful in full bloom.

Native but often elusive…

Native orchids are always a special treat, with some species ranking as infrequent finds. As a result, there are some places that are on my list each year to search for orchids. In reviewing old photo archives from 2013, I found an image of a purple-fringed orchid from Big Ivy. Naturally, I didn’t remember the exact location or even the vicinity.

Finding abundance off-trail…

The good news is that I can always count on my hiking buddy Joan to slog through the understory with me in search of orchids and other wildflowers. I was moving up the trail in a particularly rich seep area, and spotted one Small Purple-Fringed Orchid very close to the trail. WOW! We were practically hyperventilating with excitement from this unexpected find!

When you find one native orchid, typically there are others found in close proximity, especially if you are willing to brave the understory (and sometimes muck) to find them. So we headed off trail for a better view.

Our excitement at finding the first orchid was only topped by the presence of another group in all their fragile beauty. All told, we located about a dozen Small Purple-Fringed Orchids.

Just look at the fringed lateral petals that appear to be poised for movement! This close-up gives a glimpse of the nectary, which attracts pollinators and is located just above the lateral sepals. The sepals above and lateral to the nectary remind me of a ceremonial headdress for this beautiful winged orchid.

Get in touch with your inner psyche

If you are interested in native orchids, there is a very informative book by Stanley L. Bentley: “Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains”. His writing includes in-depth descriptions of the Small Purple-Fringed Orchid and many other orchids. He discusses the origins of this orchid’s species name derived from “psyche”. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a beautiful maiden in the form of a winged fairy; this word later evolved to describe one’s inner self or soul.

For me, just being in the presence of the Small Purple-Fringed Orchid brings a sense of peace and a profound appreciation for the gifts found in nature.

Joan spotted a Pink Lady’s Slipper when heading off the trail to find the remainder of the Small Purple-Fringed Orchid. Its pink inflated pouch (or moccasin) and deeply striated markings are so distinctive. The bees visit the vertical slit for pollination. Once inside the pouch, they must exit a small opening at the top of the slipper, gathering and spreading pollen as they visit other plants on their journey.

The National Forest Service provides great information on successfully conserving rare plants for future generations: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/southern/index.php

Once again, this hike was another to remember and revisit. I am behind in my posts, but check back again soon, as there are more orchids and wildflowers ahead. My upcoming post features a native orchid that is new to me (YAY!) and often associated with fire adaptation. We are on the cusp of the summer solstice, and a whole different season for exploration!