Wild Orchids

Grow in surprising places. Apparently our local ladies’-tresses species, whichever one it is, likes the mowed areas near the bit of marsh.

This was the best, most in-focus pic I got. They don’t grow very tall and… let’s just say, various joints Do Not Like getting low enough to look through the viewfinder. So it was get the camera in more-or-less the right position, click, and hope.

Not as in-focus, but shows you the whole bloom-spike. 

Okay, the orchid might not be as interesting in this one, but wow look at the spikiness of that dewberry! 

…Seriously, look at that. And if you mean to pull any in your yard, get gloves on first. Those spines are sharp and thin enough to drive into your finger joints. Getting them out is… an adventure. One that may require surgery if you’re unlucky. No one needs that. 

And a long shot of a full flower spike on one of the more ambitious orchids. Hee.

Note, I honestly do not know which species it is. It might be this one. 

Or maybe this one. Or possibly some other I haven’t found good pics of yet. We have Pine Barrens tree frogs locally, so who knows what other critters and plants have a refuge here. 

Note: When you think about characters being sent out on scavenger hunts to gather rare herbs and components, think about this. Odds are whatever it is, is in someone’s backyard. You just have to find the right one….