Hey y’all, these two hikes in North Carolina and Tennessee national forests increased our orchid count in a year that has already surpassed expectations for orchid sightings. Over a two-week period with rain and extreme heat, we accumulated fewer miles, but there was always something unexpected on the trail. Our finds included yellow-fringed and cranefly orchid, along with two species of rattlesnake plantain orchid.
North Carolina: Appalachian Ranger District in Pisgah National Forest
I love being on the trail when the rhododendron is in bloom. This year, it seems like the rhododendron has lasted longer than usual.
Sometimes, I have to shift my focus away from the flowers and keep moving….the struggle is real! I am so happy to be in the woods, observing the signs of seasonal change and documenting all the beauty found in our national forests.
The forecast included a good chance of storms, and we hoped to make it up to the newly rebuilt Rich Mountain fire tower outside of Hot Springs. There were various species of Monarda blooming along the way.
The last time we were on this trail, it was cool and rainy. This time, it was HOT and muggy, with rain in the forecast. Along the way, nature’s color palette included blue and purple wildflowers….so very calming and pleasing to the eye.
Cherokee National Forest orchids
Our next hike was in the Cherokee National Forest, on a trail that winds through varied plant communities. On the way there, a patch of Yellow-Fringed Orchids stood sentry-like, scattered about in a roadside seep.
Isn’t this native orchid spectacular? Its beauty is rivaled only by its function, as this orchid is perfectly designed to capture the attention of insect pollinators to ensure its survival. We have such an abundance of native orchids in the Southern Appalachians. https://hikescape.org/round-leaf-platanthera-orbiculata-and-purple-fringed-orchids-other-wildflowers/
When preparing for a hike, I have to get my camera strapped on and comfortably anchored for the terrain ahead. As my children have so aptly described it, this translates to donning the “nerd vest”. Or in my case, do I choose nerd vest #1 (full chest) or nerd vest #2 (shoulder holster)? When it is hot outside, the choice is the Skout shoulder holster. (No sponsors here, folks!) Regardless, I adore my Cotton carriers; it you are looking for a comfortable way to carry a DSLR, check out their gear: https://www.cottoncarrier.com/
Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain
Once on the trail, we hiked up through a rocky streamside plant community. I see a white stalk of flowers, beckoning to me from underneath the hemlocks. I crawled under the branches for a better view and was able to photograph another native orchid: Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain.
You can see the small basal leaves with pale green/white patterning. The Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain flowers and leaves differ from the Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, which is commonly found in the Southern Appalachians. Here is a link to the USDA Plant Database’s description of the Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain.
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/goorep/all.html
The Downy Rattlesnake Plantain is taller, with showier flowers on a cylindrical spike and highly patterned, evergreen leaves that stand out in every season.
Cranefly orchid
The final wildflower find on this hike was several Cranefly orchids, which blend perfectly into the forest landscape and can be difficult to find. But once you find a Cranefly orchid, others seem to jump out at you!
The Cranefly orchid may not be a showstopper among orchids, but it is a unique in that it has either the flowering stem or single leaf, but never both at the same time. I need to start carrying a ruler to illustrate the scale of these tiny flowers!
Starry campion is one of my favorite summer wildflowers. I love the way the fringed petals surround the green globe, and how the long stamens appear to be exploring the surroundings.
Eventually, our desire to escape the heat won out over the desire to rack up some miles on the trail, and we packed it in early. The lesson for me was to listen to my body and practice self-care- that can be a challenge at times.
We are racking up the miles to gear up for a 96.5 mile trek in Scotland, so there are more hikes-and wildflowers- to come over the next few weeks. Happy Trails to you!
