My first Orchid of the season

Gibby · Jul 14, 2012

manumuskin said:
GIbby
What kind of orchid be that? Just picked up Boyd's wildflower book and am going to try to dispel some of my ignorance in the wildflower field.It Doesn't appear to be opened yet or I'd try with the book.

Manumuskin, I think it is a Green Woodlands orchid (Habenaria clavellata). I won't know for sure until it opens. I am sure other members here already know what is pictured.

I have only just started to learn about orchids that grow in the Barrens. It hasn't even been a year since I have been more serious about studying them. I have a few books, I ask many questions and I spend hours in areas few go. It is a fun hobby . Today for instance, I went looking for Fringed orchids and found the one in the picture above. It is a rush when you find them and every one is different!

manumuskin · Jul 14, 2012

Whipoorbill and I have talked about hunting orchids for years and have seen some from time to time but I am hard to slow down.I'm more of an explorer and am always wanting to see the next island or cross the meanest swamp.Bill is more of a photographer .He uses me to get him to pretty places to shoot and I use him to slow me down.If he can slow me down I should be able to get us to good orchid hunting grounds since I also hit the barrens books more. besides orchids grow in my favorite places which often involve water.Problem is me and Whip no longer work the same hours/days so I may be slogging the woods alone.Shift work has an advantage of putting me in the woods when no one else is there but it's not exactly fun making a great discovery and shouting "Over Here"! and then realizing no one is there. I've actually called Guy at work when making a great stone discovery knowing darn well I shouldn't. Tel;ling my dog just ain't the same,she only gets excited over water and treats

Teegate · Jul 14, 2012

Al, you have to get over that and enjoy the find yourself, and if you want to tell the world that is what Ben made this site for.

Guy

manumuskin · Jul 14, 2012

I really have no choice. The hours I work don't leave a whole lot of time for recreation and the shift work leaves me feeling run down most of the time anyway and my wife's idea of fun is not beating through briars or belly crawling across mud flats. I'm starting to see why drinking to insensibility seems to be the passtime of choice amongst so many of my coworkers. When i was a teenager and early 20's I'd go camping illegally in the barrens by myself for days.It was quite fun back then,but I was immortal then.Now I want a friend to get busted and go to jail with. Perhaps as my second childhood approaches I'll become immortal once again? Too much is said in favor of sanity,as if it's every thing:-(

Teegate · Jul 14, 2012

Here is a photo of the Green Woodlands orchid.

oji · Jul 14, 2012

Going to check out a spot tomorrow where the Platanthera clavellata was just starting to open on Wed. P. blephariglottis and P. cristata were blooming nicely in the area.

Gibby · Jul 15, 2012

I spent the morning hunting for showy flowers and on my way home, I laughed out loud, where and when I found these White Fringed orchids (Habenaria blephariglottis).

manumuskin · Jul 15, 2012

hard to tell but are those two washed out lines power lines?

oji · Jul 15, 2012

Al, you have been by them a hundred times. It's an area that most people are buzzing by to get from one spot to the other. Good eye Gibby!

manumuskin · Jul 15, 2012

I am going to bone up on my wildflowers Tom.Gonna start getting better with insects and such too.I know my herps and mammals very well and my trees and shrubs and am pretty fair with birds but need to get better with the smaller plants and the wee small critters that torment us so in the summer.I have just ordered about eight field guides with birthday money the kids gave me and am going to hit the woods when they come in.

oji · Jul 15, 2012

Your head does a double take and you say"What The" Then you pull over and back up to see and yup that's what you saw!

oji · Jul 15, 2012

Al, are you including grasses, sedges and rushes?

manumuskin · Jul 15, 2012

I thought I was the only schizo that wore camo in the woods and am never hunting!I am always being taken for a hunter till i bring attention to the fact I have no gun or bow and arrows. I think you see more animals with it on and I can more easily avoid people when i hear them coming.Humans are the only animal I have ever been threatened by in the woods other then insects.

Teegate · Jul 15, 2012

I was there on Saturday with Jessica and there are over 300 I would say. I stopped counting at 100 and there were plenty more.

Just a reminder to everyone, lets try and keep the location off the forum. I hate saying that but it is for the best.

Gibby · Jul 16, 2012

A detailed close up of one of the orchids from yesterday (above). The fringe can clearly be seen.

manumuskin · Jul 16, 2012

such beautiful ovaries!

turtle · Jul 17, 2012

For the past few years I have been watching some yellow orchids H. cristata in the pines. The first year I did not have a camera when I discovered them, two years ago I did posted some not-too-good photos, last year someone used the area as a party spot and weed-wacked some of the orchids. A few weeks later I discovered a second population close by to the first. This year, unlike the past years, I have visited the site weekly and have patiently watched the population grow.....with no apparent disturbance. I thought you may find it interesting to see the progression. I have also posted some H. clavellata that I came across.
Enjoy!
Terry