Tag Archives: Native Orchids

Love & Skipper Butterflies (Clay Pond, NY)

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Filed under Clay Pond Preserve, Frewsburg, NY, Skipper

Skipper Butterfly II photographed by Jeff Zablow at Clay Pond Preserve, Frewsburg, NY

We were in high grass, working our way along the perimeter Clay Pond in very western New York State. This wetland preserve was rich in grasses and the wetland pollinating flowers you’d find in a pond habitat.

Barbara Ann is expert identifying native orchids, and I’ve been seeking butterflies since what? 1995?

It’s the little Skipper butterflies that I have much difficulty identifying. Lehman, Pyle, Zirlin and some others of you are more adept at determining the Skippers.

I love these little pookie butterflies, especially when they are fresh, vividly colored, and I admire their energy, purposefulness and courage, what with so many predators about.

Curt, Bob, or Harry, can you help with ID’ing this robust fella, with his long proboscis and splashed of bright yellowish orange?

Thanks.

Jeff

Showy Lady’s Slipper Orchids – What a Delight!

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Filed under Cedar Bog Preserve, OH, Native Orchids, Native Plants and Flowers, Wildflowers

Showy Orchids photographed by Jeff Zablow at Cedar Bog Preserve, not too far from Dayton, Ohio

I saw those Pink Lady’s Slipper Orchids some 18 years ago or so, in Bear Run Preserve, across the road from Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Fallingwater. I was very moved by the elegance of those Lady’s Slippers, and deeply value that one image that so pleased me.

My butterfly work often introduces me to wonderful wildflowers, and that’s how I met Barbara Ann, she expert in orchids of the northeast. Those trips to the Jamestown, New York area reunited me with Pink Lady’s Slippers. We agreed that we would LOVE to see Showy Lady’s Slippers, me for the very first time, Barbara Ann for the first time in many, many years.

Local naturalists steered us here and there, all to no success. We were either too early or too late (or not getting good info ?).

Sometime not too long ago, Barbara Ann met Angela on FaceBook. Angela is a Very enthusiastic orchid seeker, and Angela invited Barbara Ann to western Ohio, to see Showys!! At first mention of this opportunity, I jumped, and in June 2017 we were all there in Cedar Bog Preserve, not too far from Dayton, Ohio.

The largest of these Lady Slipper Orchids, good for that, for this image was taken from the boardwalk trail, and I’ll tell you, it was a real Rush for me! My very first Showy Lady Slipper Orchids.

What say you of the posture, stance, floating in air elegance of these American orchids?

Jeff

Orchids in Western Pennsylvania

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Filed under Chapman State Park, PA, Native Orchids, Native Plants and Flowers

Pink Lady's Slipper Wildflower, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Chapman State Park, NY

Sure, no winged beauties in this shot. I was in Chapman State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania this past June, 2016. I was there in 2015 too, and sure enough found Pink Lady’s Slipper native orchids. They take your breath away, they do! You just stand there and admire, and you reflect on the vulnerability of these delicate looking wildflowers.

So when I went back in June of this year, the question? was can I find them again? Yes, I searched and found this years Lady’s Slippers. The other question was, shoot them again? I do, do have good images of Pink Lady’s Slipper,  taken right here. My decision, how could I  . . . not? They are exquisite, graceful, elegant and just bathe your eyes with luscious.

I have posted Pink Lady’s Slippers here on wingedbeauty this year. But today my wife reminded me of how much she enjoys those recent shares here.

Well, if that’s the case, take in this other gentle view of  a few of these sweeties!

Jeff

Pinks at Blackwater!

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Filed under Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD, Native Orchids, Native Plants and Flowers

Pink Lady's Slipper wildflower, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD

Butterflies are my game, ‘though last year my eyes wandered a bit, to native orchids. Just 2 days ago we shared ‘3 Demure Pinks.’ Those Pink Lady’s Slipper orchids lit up the forest at Chapman State Park. Three of them growing side by side, deep red, and very earnest.

This earlier trip to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, included this run down to the “lower shore.” There, at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, I met this threesome. Very Audrey Hepburn-ish, and somewhat lighter pink. They seemed to be almost begging me to photograph them, with those weightless drops of water perilously hanging on each of them.

Lady’s Slipper orchids prefer small open spaces in thick forest. Often they are found where a tree has fallen a year or more ago. That sudden break in the forest canopy, invites their seeds to grow, thrive, in the limited, dappled sunlight that this new opening in the forest enjoys.

I Love orchids, and as if my eyes weren’t busy enough, I am on the lookout, looking for telltale indicators, like freshly created mini-openings in the forest.

Tomorrow, we drive to Eatonton, Georgia, for 2 weeks of southern butterflies. The Briar Patch Habitat, an amazing destination, beckons. We’ll be quiet, until the return back home.

Jeff