Calopogon tuberosus (Grass-pink Orchid)

This is the first of the orchids to bloom in the bog garden, this year. I'm always a bit apprehensive before they bloom, since the local squirrels tend to dig up the corms (bulbs) as they sprout.

This is an easy native orchid to grow, and it usually puts on a good show for a few weeks.

A few years ago, I had a large group of these in the garden, but some miscreant came in and pulled them up - left one corm which has mulitplied. This year, I'll have six or seven of the purple ones to bloom. They are now safe from trespassers (except for the squirrels) since I fenced in the front yard...