Southern Appalachian Native Orchids: A Gracious Plenty

Since 2013, I have been a bit obsessed in the search for purple-fringed orchids, and other native orchids that hide amidst the herbaceous understory of the Southern Appalachians. Purple-fringed orchid, both large and small, are found in our beautiful mountains. Sometimes their locations are easily accessible and other times, you are rewarded by their presence after an arduous hike. Rosebud orchid is another native orchid that is worthy of a search. https://equinoxenvironmental.com/170/

A considerable amount of time has passed between finding these orchids and creating this post. Bernie is experiencing health issues, and he has been off the trail since mid-May. After his treatment and surgery, we are looking forward to resuming our hiking expeditions. In the interim, I am getting out there as much as possible and we are doing short hikes together, but I am missing his keen eye and boundless enthusiasm.

Small Purple-fringed orchid: Platanthera psychodes

These small purple-fringed orchids (Platanthera psychodes) thrive in a boggy area that is close to Big Bald on the Appalachian Trail. However, I have also found small purple-fringed orchids in much drier plant communities, so they are quite adaptable. I really love seeing them in each phase: pre-bloom, full bloom and hanging on for dear life at the end of a bloom cycle!

The passage of time takes on new significance in the world of COVID-19. Wildflowers and orchids are innately flexible, constantly subjected to variations in weather, the availability of pollinator species, and other stressors. Perhaps our own human frailties are more reflected in these rhythms than we realize, as we learn to cope with disruptions in cycles, alter our expectations, and adjust to the whims of nature, as well as environmental impacts affecting our planet.

The heights of the small purple-fringed orchid ran the gamut, from nearly 24 inches to barely 12 inches tall. Last year, there was more variation in the flower colors, but I am certainly not complaining. Fire, Rain and Rosebud Orchids on the AT

Rosebud Orchid: Cleistes bifaria

Another favorite trail is the Tanyard Gap to Hurricane Gap on the AT, which experienced a wildfire in 2016. Fire, while devastating to homes and fauna, is one of nature’s tools to regenerate herbaceous plant habitats by clearing out brush and other understory layers that can squeeze out native species. The gorgeous Rosebud orchid (Cleistes bifaria) is one of those native orchid opportunists that has responded well to fire.

This tiny, delicate orchid is captivating, revealing finely variegated speckles and lines on the lip that swells and extends beneath the pale to deep pink flower tube, beckoning pollinators. There are three sepals that extend outward above the tube. These vary in color from pale green to a near burgundy hue.

Here you can see the variations in the colors of the sepals.

Other assorted beauties

Who doesn’t adore the creamsicle colored Flame Azalea? This beauty boasts a spectrum of colors. It varies from pale creamy orange to the incendiary glow of a burning ember.

I never tire of butterflies, with their lovely, filmy wings spiriting them from bloom to bloom. This is an Orange Fritillary, (perhaps an Atlantis fritillary?) feeding on purple clover.

Finally, we saw the remnants of Fringed Phacelia in early June, which is rather late. There were only a few surviving flowers. They were a testament to hanging on to the final days of spring.

Stonecrop flowers are just gorgeous, and you can always count on spotting these succulent leaves all year long.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. In the interim, there have been other hikes and images recorded, awaiting another blog post. I hope that your late spring and summer have been marked by exploration, and that you are getting out there and enjoying all the gifts of nature!