I love native orchids; they exist right in front of us, but hide in plain sight. Catching them in bloom requires diligence and/or habit. There are times when I have rushed to see Showy Orchis, Pink Lady’s Slipper, or Yellow Lady’s Slipper in bloom, and found only stalks holding shriveled Read more…
Just before the last week of June, we squeezed in 11.7 miles in three separate hikes. My goal was to find more native orchids and wildflowers before leaving for the Pacific Northwest to visit our daughter. The Round-Leaf Orchid (Platanthera orbiculata) is one of my favorites, and a tricky one Read more…
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 Read more…