Platanthera praeclara (Western Prairie Fringed orchid) growing in the ditches

We made the two-hour trip down to the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie preserve which is an area of native prairie protected by the Nature Conservancy. It is the home of the endangered, Platanthera praeclara or Western Prairie Fringed orchid.

Walter Ezell and I had visited this location in 2005, when the Native Orchid Conference had its annual symposium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am as enthralled with the orchids now as I was then. The Western Prairie Fringed orchid produces creamy white, fringed flowers that can reach almost 1.5 inches (~4 cm) across!

To learn more about this wonderful place, please go to Jim's Blog...