Fifth Week of the Native Orchid Season

[ronaldhanko]

This was the week of May 5-11, 2013, a good week. The Fairy Slippers were well along, the Spotted Coralroots were at their peak as were the Striped Coralroots, and I found a few Western Coralroots at one early location. and I found a few Clustered Lady's Slippers as well. The prizes, though were a number of white Fairy Slippers and the yellow unspotted form of the Spotted Coralroot.




Native Orchids of the Pacific Northwest and the Canadian Rockies: Fifth Week of the Native Orchid Season - Fairy Slippers, Three Coralroots and Two Rarities

[OCRC_Dir_China]

They are great.

[Vanda lover]

Beautiful Ron! So far the only orchids I've seen in our 5 years on the island are spotted coralroot.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks, OCRC, and Vanda, you have an abundance of orchids on the Island including some real rarities. The last time I was there (and I don't get there often because of the cost of the ferries), I saw four species including one rarity, and that was late in the season when there wasn't a lot to be seen. I can tell you where to find some of them if you are interested.

[Vanda lover]

Thanks Ron. Maybe it's because we mainly use trails that are public trails, though we have also been up in the mountains on some. We saw a gorgeous gentian up near a mountain lake once. What part of the island were you on when you saw the orchids?

[ronaldhanko]

Mostly the southwest end of the island, west of Victoria, but they can be found on a number of public trails as well, especially around Sooke Pothole Park and the Sooke River. There are so many places to look on the Island. A friend has found the rare Ozette Coralroot at Macmillan Provincial Park and the area around Nanaimo is a paradise for Piperias in late July and August.

[Vanda lover]

Thanks Ron, Ill keep that in mind. Maybe I'll see some this summer. Macmillan is close to us.

[ronaldhanko]

Hope you find some.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks ever so much, Sonya.