Platanthera peramoena (Purple fringeless orchid)

Finally, we make it to a place that I've had the privilege to visit on two previous occasions. This is a Blue Ridge Parkway roadside site that was first shown to me by my photography buddies, Mark and David.

The site is very mucky with deep, boot-sucking mud and tall vegetation (including stinging briars)-- I love this place!

But, I digress. A couple of the blooming plants were easily visible from the road, having been exposed by a close call from the mowers. Another couple of inches closer to the road, and these plants would have been history.

The site seems to be doing just fine, but I wonder how long it will last if the-powers-that-be decide to clear out the vegetation or fill in the wetland...

Thanks to Alan's finding the large one (more than three feet tall), we got to see the best of these along the Parkway.