We have made three or four trips already this year to Washington Park. It is an hour and a half from where we live near the town of Anacortes and the San Juan Ferries, and is one of our favorite places for wildflowers, for the Madrone trees, for bird-watching and for native orchids. It is just simply the perfect place for a walk, for photography, and for exploring.
We had already made several trips but went again to see a white Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis fma. nivea) that had been reported by a friend. We not only found it but found other Fairy Slippers still blooming as well, though many had been pollinated and were turning white, and we found, for the first time, the Western Coralroot (Corallorhiza mertensiana) blooming there.
The day we went, Thursday, May 3, was rainy, cold and windy, not the best weather for photographs. We managed to get good photos of the Fairy Slippers which were somewhat protected, but I did not get any good pictures of the Western Coralroots. All the pictures of them that I am posting here were taken by my wife, who somehow managed to get very good photos in spite of the wind.
Incredible photos! I've long dreamed on seeing the Calypso but have missed out the few times I've been out to see it. Someday maybe!
ReplyDeleteHow I would love to show you all the different places where the Calypsos bloom. If you know where to look you can find them well into July at the higher elevations.
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