Cleistes bifaria (Small spreading pogonia orchid)

Just a short morning trip up the road to shoot more spring flowers. I was fortunate to find some really colorful ones on this trip.

This doesn't look like much, I know, but it represents a new find of a rather uncommon orchid. A few weeks ago, I was up at one of the upstate Heritage Preserves, when I discovered what I thought might be Cleistes bifaria (Small spreading pogonia). I believe it would be a first for this particular Heritage Preserve. However, the plants were right in the middle of the trail, and some had been trampled and broken, and the ones that survived were not in very good shape. Out of nine plants, this is the only one that has managed to keep its bud. I'm hoping that it remains safe for another week or so, when it will be in bloom...