Cleistesiopsis species

The second day of my weekend trip to the Atlantic Coastal Plain... These shots represent native orchids found in the Francis Marion National Forest, near Charleston, SC. Some are repeat species that I photographed in the Green Swamp near Wilmington, NC on the previous day. The only differences being the white orchids toward the end of today's post. Although the same species as the orchids found a bit farther north, these were decidedly more rose-pink. A nice addition to the other roadside wildflowers...

The second day of my weekend trip to the Atlantic Coastal Plain... These shots represent native orchids found in the Francis Marion National Forest, near Charleston, SC. Some are repeat species that I photographed in the Green Swamp near Wilmington, NC on the previous day. The only differences being the white orchids toward the end of today's post. Although the same species as the orchids found a bit farther north, these were decidedly more rose-pink. A nice addition to the other roadside wildflowers...

The second day of my weekend trip to the Atlantic Coastal Plain... These shots represent native orchids found in the Francis Marion National Forest, near Charleston, SC. Some are repeat species that I photographed in the Green Swamp near Wilmington, NC on the previous day. The only differences being the white orchids toward the end of today's post. Although the same species as the orchids found a bit farther north, these were decidedly more rose-pink. A nice addition to the other roadside wildflowers...

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...

We just returned from the 3-day annual symposium of the Native Orchid Conference. This year, we had our meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. The field trips were held in the Green Swamp, a 17,000 acre holding managed by The Nature Conservancy. It is known for its wonderful native orchids as well as its superb carnivorous plants. Since it was an orchid symposium, I will honor this by presenting orchid images in the first pass then follow up with other wildflowers in the next few days...

We just returned from the 3-day annual symposium of the Native Orchid Conference. This year, we had our meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. The field trips were held in the Green Swamp, a 17,000 acre holding managed by The Nature Conservancy. It is known for its wonderful native orchids as well as its superb carnivorous plants. Since it was an orchid symposium, I will honor this by presenting orchid images in the first pass then follow up with other wildflowers in the next few days...

We just returned from the 3-day annual symposium of the Native Orchid Conference. This year, we had our meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. The field trips were held in the Green Swamp, a 17,000 acre holding managed by The Nature Conservancy. It is known for its wonderful native orchids as well as its superb carnivorous plants. Since it was an orchid symposium, I will honor this by presenting orchid images in the first pass then follow up with other wildflowers in the next few days...

We just returned from the 3-day annual symposium of the Native Orchid Conference. This year, we had our meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. The field trips were held in the Green Swamp, a 17,000 acre holding managed by The Nature Conservancy. It is known for its wonderful native orchids as well as its superb carnivorous plants. Since it was an orchid symposium, I will honor this by presenting orchid images in the first pass then follow up with other wildflowers in the next few days...

Today, the final day of the field trips for the annual Native Orchid Conference symposium, found us visiting some mountain sites for native orchids. It did sprinkle rain off and on, but we were determined to complete the field trips and see some orchids that some of us had never seen before today. The first place we stopped was Ashmore Heritage Preserve in Greenville County, South Carolina. This is almost in my "backyard", so I was excited for those from far away to see and appreciate all of the floral diversity that is at this location. We did see four orchid species, but not each was in bloom on this day. The second trip was to the Brevard area in Transylvania County, North Carolina, where we visited Pisgah National Forest. We found a huge population of Galearis spectabilis which was bloomed out, but it certainly will be one place I will revisit next April. From there, we went to a secluded site above the Pink Beds where we found the elusive Appalachian twayblade orchid. It's small, but quite a find to add to our list... All in all, the field trips were a success. The attendees were able to see orchids and many other rare plants that are endemic to the Carolinas.

Today, the final day of the field trips for the annual Native Orchid Conference symposium, found us visiting some mountain sites for native orchids. It did sprinkle rain off and on, but we were determined to complete the field trips and see some orchids that some of us had never seen before today. The first place we stopped was Ashmore Heritage Preserve in Greenville County, South Carolina. This is almost in my "backyard", so I was excited for those from far away to see and appreciate all of the floral diversity that is at this location. We did see four orchid species, but not each was in bloom on this day. The second trip was to the Brevard area in Transylvania County, North Carolina, where we visited Pisgah National Forest. We found a huge population of Galearis spectabilis which was bloomed out, but it certainly will be one place I will revisit next April. From there, we went to a secluded site above the Pink Beds where we found the elusive Appalachian twayblade orchid. It's small, but quite a find to add to our list... All in all, the field trips were a success. The attendees were able to see orchids and many other rare plants that are endemic to the Carolinas.

Today, the final day of the field trips for the annual Native Orchid Conference symposium, found us visiting some mountain sites for native orchids. It did sprinkle rain off and on, but we were determined to complete the field trips and see some orchids that some of us had never seen before today. The first place we stopped was Ashmore Heritage Preserve in Greenville County, South Carolina. This is almost in my "backyard", so I was excited for those from far away to see and appreciate all of the floral diversity that is at this location. We did see four orchid species, but not each was in bloom on this day. The second trip was to the Brevard area in Transylvania County, North Carolina, where we visited Pisgah National Forest. We found a huge population of Galearis spectabilis which was bloomed out, but it certainly will be one place I will revisit next April. From there, we went to a secluded site above the Pink Beds where we found the elusive Appalachian twayblade orchid. It's small, but quite a find to add to our list... All in all, the field trips were a success. The attendees were able to see orchids and many other rare plants that are endemic to the Carolinas.

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

In the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville County), there are a number of Heritage Preserves whose sole reason for existing is to preserve rare wild plants or wild animals. Recently, I discovered a small population of orchids in one of these preserves. I had not seen it in bloom at this locaton, but I had recognized the shape of the leaves. This orchid is Cleistesiopsis bifaria or Upland spreading pogonia orchid. I was excited to find this particular species, since the closest population I knew about was pretty far away from my home. This year, I saw several plants in bud, and I knew I was going to be able to photograph it soon. This species is a bit unusual, in that it grows in the mountain regions of the Carolinas as well as along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. On one of this year's Native Orchid Conference field trips, we were taken to a location in another upstate Heritage Preserve where, to my surprise, it was blooming there! I am certainly thankful that I live in such a richly diverse botanical area...

While I'm working on preparing some of the West Coast orchid images we took last week at the Native Orchid Conference in California, I'm posting these four images of an orchid that blooms in a heritage preserve about forty minutes away...