Spiranthes cernua (Nodding ladies'-tresses orchid)

Several years ago, I was surprised to find a dense grouping of this fall-blooming orchid in one of our state Heritage Preserves. I had seen this orchid in small groups at this site, near a stream, but not in such a mass of flowers!

This plot is about six feet by six feet and is situated on bare granite at about a 45 degree angle! The soil (if you can call it that) is only a couple of inches deep, and it is watered by a seep from above the bald.

A couple of years ago, we had a very dry summer, and this fragile site suffered considerably, but somehow it managed to hang on, and now it is almost back to its historic best. This is always one of my favorite places to visit in the early fall...