Fall is fine, ‘though 99% of butterflies are gone. Mourning cloaks and those elusive Tortoiseshell butterflies do fly in October and November, but these northern butterflies are so very few and far between.

Now back from 3 weeks in Georgia, I have much inventory work to do, louping, culling, identifying and storing all of the newest slides, and working with Rewind Memories to scan the best of the best.

Gardening now amounts to removing spent annuals and cutting other down or to the ground.

A kind of pall descends, ever so slightly on those of us who do these things. Antidote(s)?

Here is one good one. Reminisce. Recall the moments when you did find our own American-native orchids. Remember how they took your breathe away. Beautiful, delicate, solitary and Oh! how defenseless and vulnerable. Rare, so rare. So in need of protection, hopefully by county, state or federal oversight.

Then look forward. Look forward to heading out in the late Spring of 2017 to find these Pink Lady’s Slipper wildflowers. USA native orchids found amidst heavily wooded areas. This one grew in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge, Maryland, on Maryland’s lower shore area.

Baffled by uncertainty? Don’t know where to find them? There are dozens of native orchids in the eastern U.S., and your county park offices, state park offices and National Wildlife Refuges will be glad to direct you, and use their sharp yellow highlighters to bring you in close personal contact with these Gifts from G-d. June would be my suggestion. Do it.

Jeff