Gymndeniopsis (Platanthera) integra

It was a big surprise to see this one in the Francis Marion. It is more plentiful just up the road in the Green Swamp of North Carolina.

It was a big surprise to see this one in the Francis Marion. It is more plentiful in the Green Swamp of North Carolina.

On a recent trip to southeastern North Carolina, we saw many orchids and other wildflowers. A group of us met in the Green Swamp Preserve -- a rich, diverse, wild area managed by The Nature Conservancy. This is a fairly rare orchid that has chosen to grow where we can find it. It has come up in this one location for the past few years. I hope it continues to do so...

On a recent trip to southeastern North Carolina, we saw many orchids and other wildflowers. A group of us met in the Green Swamp Preserve -- a rich, diverse, wild area managed by The Nature Conservancy. This is a fairly rare orchid that has chosen to grow where we can find it. It has come up in this one location for the past few years. I hope it continues to do so...

On a recent trip to southeastern North Carolina, we saw many orchids and other wildflowers. A group of us met in the Green Swamp Preserve -- a rich, diverse, wild area managed by The Nature Conservancy. This is a fairly rare orchid that has chosen to grow where we can find it. It has come up in this one location for the past few years. I hope it continues to do so...

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

One of the main reasons for going to the Green Swamp during late summer orchid season is to photograph the beautiful, Yellow fringeless orchid. This year, there were at least a hundred plants blooming on Big Island Savannah. Some few were a bit past peak bloom, but most of them were just perfect. Seeing so many of them at one location might make one think that this species is common, but it is quite scarce. The scape is generally 2-4 inches tall -- smaller than Crested fringed orchid and much smaller than Yellow fringed orchid. Interestingly enough, all three were blooming during at this site during our visit. Along for the ride were Skip Pudney, Alan Cressler, Chris Davidson, Kelvin Taylor, Joe Rone, and yours truly. Although it was misting rain for most of the day, the light was perfect, and there was no wind!

At the end of some speaking engagements, I found myself in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, so I decided to see what the Green Swamp Preserve had to offer in the way of orchids. I was not disappointed... For more images and the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...

At the end of some speaking engagements, I found myself in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, so I decided to see what the Green Swamp Preserve had to offer in the way of orchids. I was not disappointed... For more images and the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...

At the end of some speaking engagements, I found myself in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, so I decided to see what the Green Swamp Preserve had to offer in the way of orchids. I was not disappointed... For more images and the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...

At the end of some speaking engagements, I found myself in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, so I decided to see what the Green Swamp Preserve had to offer in the way of orchids. I was not disappointed... For more images and the story, please go to Jim's Blog ...