Calopogon tuberosus

We just returned from our week-long trip to Plumas County, California where we attended the annual Native Orchid Conference symposium. This is what awaited me in my front yard bog garden. These always make for a pretty accent in a mass of green pitcher plants...

We just returned from our week-long trip to Plumas County, California where we attended the annual Native Orchid Conference symposium. This is what awaited me in my front yard bog garden. These always make for a pretty accent in a mass of green pitcher plants...

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, I met my photography buddy Kelvin Taylor in the Green Swamp, Brunswick County, North Carolina for a day trip to photograph orchids and whatever else we could find that was interesting. The previous week, we had heard from a mutual friend, Neil Jacobs, that he had rediscovered Spiranthes eatonii (Eaton's Ladies'-tresses orchid) in the Green Swamp Preserve. This was good news since it had not been reliably recorded from the area in more than 50 years. I think that the consecutive anual prescribed burns of the savannah has had a lot to do with it being found. After photographing the Ladies'-tresses orchids, Kelvin and I explored more of the grassy savannah. Soon, we found many Calopogn pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchids) in an amazing range of colors. Before leaving the area and heading home, we drove to Myrtle Head Savannah, to check out the recent (early May) prescribed burn. I've never seen so many Calopogon pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchid) in one place. We even found the rare, pure white form. Removing the dense grass with a prescribed burn works wonders with wildflowers and orchids. Finishing up, we drove over to a roadside site along Hwy. 130, east of Shallotte, North Carolina. Here we saw many color forms of Calopogon tuberosus (Common Grass-pink orchid) and one of the largest Venus' Fly-traps I've ever seen. Fortunately, it was also in flower... To read more about this field trip and to see additional images, go to Jim's Blog .

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, I met my photography buddy Kelvin Taylor in the Green Swamp, Brunswick County, North Carolina for a day trip to photograph orchids and whatever else we could find that was interesting. The previous week, we had heard from a mutual friend, Neil Jacobs, that he had rediscovered Spiranthes eatonii (Eaton's Ladies'-tresses orchid) in the Green Swamp Preserve. This was good news since it had not been reliably recorded from the area in more than 50 years. I think that the consecutive anual prescribed burns of the savannah has had a lot to do with it being found. After photographing the Ladies'-tresses orchids, Kelvin and I explored more of the grassy savannah. Soon, we found many Calopogn pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchids) in an amazing range of colors. Before leaving the area and heading home, we drove to Myrtle Head Savannah, to check out the recent (early May) prescribed burn. I've never seen so many Calopogon pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchid) in one place. We even found the rare, pure white form. Removing the dense grass with a prescribed burn works wonders with wildflowers and orchids. Finishing up, we drove over to a roadside site along Hwy. 130, east of Shallotte, North Carolina. Here we saw many color forms of Calopogon tuberosus (Common Grass-pink orchid) and one of the largest Venus' Fly-traps I've ever seen. Fortunately, it was also in flower... To read more about this field trip and to see additional images, go to Jim's Blog .

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, I met my photography buddy Kelvin Taylor in the Green Swamp, Brunswick County, North Carolina for a day trip to photograph orchids and whatever else we could find that was interesting. The previous week, we had heard from a mutual friend, Neil Jacobs, that he had rediscovered Spiranthes eatonii (Eaton's Ladies'-tresses orchid) in the Green Swamp Preserve. This was good news since it had not been reliably recorded from the area in more than 50 years. I think that the consecutive anual prescribed burns of the savannah has had a lot to do with it being found. After photographing the Ladies'-tresses orchids, Kelvin and I explored more of the grassy savannah. Soon, we found many Calopogn pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchids) in an amazing range of colors. Before leaving the area and heading home, we drove to Myrtle Head Savannah, to check out the recent (early May) prescribed burn. I've never seen so many Calopogon pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchid) in one place. We even found the rare, pure white form. Removing the dense grass with a prescribed burn works wonders with wildflowers and orchids. Finishing up, we drove over to a roadside site along Hwy. 130, east of Shallotte, North Carolina. Here we saw many color forms of Calopogon tuberosus (Common Grass-pink orchid) and one of the largest Venus' Fly-traps I've ever seen. Fortunately, it was also in flower... To read more about this field trip and to see additional images, go to Jim's Blog .

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, I met my photography buddy Kelvin Taylor in the Green Swamp, Brunswick County, North Carolina for a day trip to photograph orchids and whatever else we could find that was interesting. The previous week, we had heard from a mutual friend, Neil Jacobs, that he had rediscovered Spiranthes eatonii (Eaton's Ladies'-tresses orchid) in the Green Swamp Preserve. This was good news since it had not been reliably recorded from the area in more than 50 years. I think that the consecutive anual prescribed burns of the savannah has had a lot to do with it being found. After photographing the Ladies'-tresses orchids, Kelvin and I explored more of the grassy savannah. Soon, we found many Calopogn pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchids) in an amazing range of colors. Before leaving the area and heading home, we drove to Myrtle Head Savannah, to check out the recent (early May) prescribed burn. I've never seen so many Calopogon pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchid) in one place. We even found the rare, pure white form. Removing the dense grass with a prescribed burn works wonders with wildflowers and orchids. Finishing up, we drove over to a roadside site along Hwy. 130, east of Shallotte, North Carolina. Here we saw many color forms of Calopogon tuberosus (Common Grass-pink orchid) and one of the largest Venus' Fly-traps I've ever seen. Fortunately, it was also in flower... To read more about this field trip and to see additional images, go to Jim's Blog .

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, I met my photography buddy Kelvin Taylor in the Green Swamp, Brunswick County, North Carolina for a day trip to photograph orchids and whatever else we could find that was interesting. The previous week, we had heard from a mutual friend, Neil Jacobs, that he had rediscovered Spiranthes eatonii (Eaton's Ladies'-tresses orchid) in the Green Swamp Preserve. This was good news since it had not been reliably recorded from the area in more than 50 years. I think that the consecutive anual prescribed burns of the savannah has had a lot to do with it being found. After photographing the Ladies'-tresses orchids, Kelvin and I explored more of the grassy savannah. Soon, we found many Calopogn pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchids) in an amazing range of colors. Before leaving the area and heading home, we drove to Myrtle Head Savannah, to check out the recent (early May) prescribed burn. I've never seen so many Calopogon pallidus (Pale Grass-pink orchid) in one place. We even found the rare, pure white form. Removing the dense grass with a prescribed burn works wonders with wildflowers and orchids. Finishing up, we drove over to a roadside site along Hwy. 130, east of Shallotte, North Carolina. Here we saw many color forms of Calopogon tuberosus (Common Grass-pink orchid) and one of the largest Venus' Fly-traps I've ever seen. Fortunately, it was also in flower... To read more about this field trip and to see additional images, go to Jim's Blog .

The two places we would visit on this day were Parc Boutte du Cap on Cape St. George, and Kippens Bog near Stephenville. Parc Boutte du Cap is noted for its towering cliffs, fierce winds, and Yellow Lady's-Slipper orchids in the thousands. Kippens Bog is a large but little-known bog in the village of Kippens, just to the west of Stephenville. It is known for the large number of multi-flowered Dragon's Mouth orhids. What a day we had photographing these beauties... To see more images and to read about the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...

The two places we would visit on this day were Parc Boutte du Cap on Cape St. George, and Kippens Bog near Stephenville. Parc Boutte du Cap is noted for its towering cliffs, fierce winds, and Yellow Lady's-Slipper orchids in the thousands. Kippens Bog is a large but little-known bog in the village of Kippens, just to the west of Stephenville. It is known for the large number of multi-flowered Dragon's Mouth orhids. What a day we had photographing these beauties... To see more images and to read about the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I cannot say that our visit to Rocky Harbour bog was uneventful. It took us more than five attempts to find our way through the thick woods between the highway and the bog -- a distance of only a hundred meters or so. Eventually, we plowed through and had to wade across a wide stream before reaching the bog. But, we ended up adding a new orchid to our trip list: Malaxis unifolia or Green Adder's-Mouth orchid. We were to see several other orchid species in this bog before we finally made our way out across a dilapidated foot bridge. A fun time was had by all... To see additional images and read more about this adventure, please visit Jim's Blog ...

I checked my front yard bog garden this morning and saw the first of the Common Grass-pink orchids of this season...