Friday, May 29, 2015

Ninth Orchid of the Season and Another First


On one of our recent hikes we found and photographed Cypripedium montanum, the Mountain Lady's Slipper, our tenth orchid of the season.  We saw hundreds of them at two different locations, most of them either the very dark form with the burgundy-edged pouch, forma welchii, of the paler greenish form.  Among them we found two plants with three flowers of the albino form, forma praetertincum.  We had searched for this form before and never found it, except for one tiny crippled flower a year ago that we did not even photograph.  These flowers were in prime condition, and though the light was failing in the evening, we managed to get decent photos.

Cypripedium montanum























Cypripedium montanum fma. welchii









Cypripedium montanum fma. praetertinctum



8 comments:

Thelma said...

Absolutely beautiful. Nice photos.

Upupaepops said...

Masgnificent! Ron truly outstanding

Ron said...

Thanks, Thelma. Appreciate the visit.

Ron said...

Thank you, Marti. We photographed these at the two locations we've gotten from you. There are a lot of them at both locations this year.

klaraau01 said...

What a special delight to see them growing in nature! Thank you for great photos

Ron said...

We try to see them every year, though we've seen them many times before. Thanks for your kind comments.

Angel Mar said...

How wonderful! I think it is my favorite Cypripedium. I'd like to see it natural. The photos are fantastic!!!

Ron said...

If you are ever out our way when this is in bloom, I'd be happy to take you to a place where there are hundreds of them.