Michigan Orchids

June is a great month to find wild orchids in Michigan.  I thought I would share a few that I have seen this month.

June 6, 2017 - I saw  Ram's Head Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium arietinum).  This was the first time I got to see this orchid, and it was beautiful.  They are very small, these were about 6 inches tall with the flower itself slightly less than an inch.

The next orchid here is called Tuberous Grass Pink (Calopogon tuberosus). This orchid is also quite small, these were around 5 to 6 inches tall, with the flower being only
1 1/2 inch in size.  I saw the Grass Pink on June 26 this year.

June 27 2017 Betsy and I went to see the Rose Pogonia orchid  (Pogonia ophioglossoides) and this time I remembered a quarter for size comparison.  A quarter is almost an inch across, ~ 11/12 of an inch.  As you can see this is another small orchid.  Around 5 inches tall, with the flower about one inch in size.

This last orchid is commonly called Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid  (Cypripedium reginae) and it is a bit larger than the other Lady's Slippers.  In the photo below, the orchid was about 28 inches tall and the inflated pouch was nearly two inches in size.  This group was under the cover of trees and were in great condition.  The Showy Lady's Slipper in the bottom photo was out in the open and was starting to turn brown on its petals.  I saw these on June 26 and some were passed their prime.  Still beautiful.

So I'm jumping ahead with this blog but wanted to share this while it is still June. 

And the reason I plaster my name on the images is because once an image is uploaded to the internet (even if you try to protect it) it is out there worldwide forever.  I see my images all the time on different sites, usually giving credit to the Plants Amaze Me blog.  That's not the issue.

But I have also discovered that some one in Asia copied and pasted all my posts making it their blog.  Many other sites are trying to sell the images. 

But I'm sharing these any way.  Some people are not able to get out and see these plants so that is why I continue to blog. 

Michgan Fens, Michigan Wild Orchids

One of the most interesting trips that Marie and I have taken recently, was in mid June 2013.  We explored a new place, quite secluded - with water, mud, and lots of wildflowers, just the way I like places to be.  We found an orchid called Grass Pink blooming and it was a real treat.

Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus)
It is wild, native, and beautiful.
A brilliant pink to pale purple cluster of 2 to 10 flowers, standing 4 to 22 inches tall.  What a sight on the somewhat pale background of the marl fen. 

 

We also saw many Showy Lady's Slipper another orchid that thrives here.  These are large (8 to 36 inches), showy, orchids with rough leaves that are heavily veined. 

 Showy Lady's Slipper (Cyripedium reginaw) Orchid Family

And one more orchid

 Loesel's Twayblade (Liparis loeselii).  This orchid is small and easily hidden, being a yellow green color, it blends well with nearby plants.  I have found this orchid at Bass River Recreation Area also.

Loesel's Twayblade

We also saw hundreds of Pitcher Plants flowering.  Plants are 12 to 20 inches tall, flowers solitary. The colors range from deep purple to red, green, and yellow.

              Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

The structure of the flower is so unique, below is a look inside.

 

Then there are the leaves of this fascinating plant.  Leaves are 4-10 inches long, usually purple veined, lined on the inside with downward pointing hairs. Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants.

 

 A wonderful place, and a wonderful day.





Manistee - Day Two

June 28 2011 We were up a 6 a.m., no hurries, no worries.  Coffee and breakfast on the front porch.  We left the cabin around 9, heading for the Manistee River Trail.  We are going to start at the "waterfall" going north on South 1 Road then west on Forest Road 7120.

I had to brake along the road when I saw purple, right away I knew it was Viper's Bugloss.

From the gate we walked to the river then south, looking for some river flats.  There are many small footbridges along this trail. 

 We  identified Shinleaf (Pyrola Family).

On a very steep hillside facing the river we saw Showy Lady's Slipper.  Totally inaccessible.
Soon we got to the flats and I showed Marie the Indian Paintbrush that Mike and I had seen here in mid June.

Then I was right on the edge of the river when I found an orchid.  It was pale green and slender.  Marie used her wisdom and her Newcomb's Wildflower Guide and dubbed it a Tubercled Orchid!

A kingfisher chattered down the river, frogs were jumping, butterflies flitted about.

I think this is a Pearl Crescent, going by my recently acquired

 Butterflies of Michigan by Jaret C. Daniels. 

Here are a few other things we found on the river flats.

A rough looking Showy Lady's Slipper

                                     Black-eyed Susan

                             Webs with dew

            Harebell, getting ready to open.

                              Common St. Johnswort

Our old friend, Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as Selfheal or Heal-all.

What a cool place, so many things to see!

We needed to head for home, about a two hour drive,

back to the real world.

Fen, Prairie Fen, and More

June 20 2011 A special day.  My sister, Marie, and I drove approximately 60 miles southeast to a fen in Barry County Michigan.  Not big in size but filled with amazing plants.

             Fun boardwalks...

This is one of the wildflowers I came to see, Showy Lady's Slipper.  It's an orchid of course.  They were growing deep in the grasses, we were careful not to disturb them.  The leaves surprised me with their fuzziness.   

We also found, Yellow Star-Grass,

 White Camas,












and some kind of Indian-Plantain.

Insects

The last two photos are of a Dogbane Tiger Moth. 

Then a large snail. 

  and a Daddy longlegs (or Harvester) with red Mites.

I really liked this fen maybe we should visit here again? 

After this place we went on to the Maher Sanctuary managed by the Grand Rapids Audubon Club.  This is in Irving Township, Barry County, Michigan with parking area on 108th Street.  Another interesting place! 

Cain Creek flows through this sanctuary and we found the bridge out, but being repaired.  We managed to cross with no problem.

Cain Creek

 Along the way we saw Wild Onion,

 Marsh Skullcap (Scutellaria epilobiifolia)

And a Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Wow!  Fun places I wonder where we will go next time.