Hexalectris species

We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids. Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".

We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids. Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".

We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids. Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".

We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids. Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".

We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids. Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids. They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today. The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached. We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top). "So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail. All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))

Walter, Alan, and I began a very busy field trip day at a location found in Stan Bentley's "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains". The site, which is on the top of a massive, rounded granite bald, is a strange one for Hexalectris spicata, since this species generally prefers basic soils -- soils rich in Calcium or Magnesium. Granite is not known for providing such a mineral soil. Having said that, on July 16, there were dozens of Hexalectris spicata in evidence on the mountain top. The odd thing about these this year, is that on any one bloom stem, about 50% of the flowers (the lower ones) were past bloom and some already producing seed capsules, while the top half of the flowers were still in tight bud. Only a very few single flowers were open. That is why I don't show any full-length shots of bloom stems in this series of images...

Walter, Alan, and I began a very busy field trip day at a location found in Stan Bentley's "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains". The site, which is on the top of a massive, rounded granite bald, is a strange one for Hexalectris spicata, since this species generally prefers basic soils -- soils rich in Calcium or Magnesium. Granite is not known for providing such a mineral soil. Having said that, on July 16, there were dozens of Hexalectris spicata in evidence on the mountain top. The odd thing about these this year, is that on any one bloom stem, about 50% of the flowers (the lower ones) were past bloom and some already producing seed capsules, while the top half of the flowers were still in tight bud. Only a very few single flowers were open. That is why I don't show any full-length shots of bloom stems in this series of images...