Spiranthes odorata (Fragrant ladies'-tresses orchid)

Before our trip to the Green Swamp, we had a communication from another photographer friend who had just visited a small town close to the Green Swamp Preserve. He had told us that in this small town (Boiling Spring Lakes), there were some side streets whose ditches were full of orchids. Well, I had to see it for myself.

He was right! And they were in full bloom! The problem turned out to be deciding which species of Spiranthes we were looking at. After much debate, I decided that they were Fragrant ladies'-tresses since the flowers did not nod as do the flowers of Spiranthes cernua.