Exotic Blooms in the Land of Milk and Honey

Posted March 31, 2019

Filed under Flowers Loved by Butterflies, Golan, Israel, Mt. Hermon, Israel, Native Plants and Flowers

Just One Hour To . . . Capernum

Two Unforgettable flower stalks, perched on a rocky hill edge, overlooking the verdant (OMG! green) northern border of Israel. I was determined to save my film for butterflies, but c’mon, how could I not succumb to this temptation? March 2015 in the Golan Heights region of Israel. A wet winter insured the arrival of a Spring with flowers blanketing the land, and rare wildflowers determined to capitalize on the excellent growing conditions.

These Hyacinth Squill blooms (Scilla Hyacinthoides) dotted the sides of these hills, on the SPNI Hermon Reserve. They enjoy a short growing season, and are listed as a Protected Species. The expanse of view looks to the northwest, into Lebanon. Lebanon, a country wracked with violence. A pastoral view then, with bad-boy land to the horizon.

Yes, this is primarily a butterfly blog, but . . . the camera made me do it!

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Orchids in Western Pennsylvania

Posted October 15, 2016

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

Blackwater NWRefuge Orchid

Posted October 6, 2016

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

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

Hi Pretty!

Posted November 27, 2015

Filed under Big Bend, WMA, FL, Native Plants and Flowers

I drove the 4 hours from Eatonton, Georgia due south to Perry, Florida. I checked into the Hampton Inn, and with some help from the front desk staff, was in Big Bend Wildlife Management Area the next morning. Excited? Are you kidding? I hadn’t been to Florida since 1963, and now I’m back with camera, Fuji slide film, knee pad and all the rest of my gear.

Butterflies of the Florida Panhandle, that’s what I came for. Total triumph is about the best way to describe those 4 sunny days. No feral dogs, no nasty critters, just a few ticks (Yes, Ugh!!!), and so many butterflies that were new to me, or that I’d only since once or twice before.

The thing was, not only were there winged beauties aloft and nectaring, but there were also flowers that I had never seen before, not even up in Putnam County, Georgia or at Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge or at Hard labor Creek State Park. Shoot or conserve film. You know how that worked out.

Excellent example here. I approached this beacon of beauty, and must have said, “Hello, and who are you?” I shot away, knowing that much later I will find the name and info..

It’s a . . . Salt marsh Morning Glory (Ipomoea sagittata) and found along the coast from North Carolina down to Florida and westward to Texas.

I liked/like it, and standing there before it, liked it alot.

Jeff

Could 2016 be the Year for Native U.S. Orchids?

Posted October 31, 2015

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

Today was a cool day here, with Pittsburgh highs hovering around 51 degrees Fahrenheit. During the day, I poured through Israeli wildflower field guides, searching for which of their natives orchids will be in bloom next February to March ’16. A friend confirmed that searching and finding Protected Israeli orchids would be . . . you fill in the word. Butterflies and orchids, Oh, I can only dream.

These Pink Lady Slipper blooms graced a tiny clearing in the woods in Chapman State Park, tucked into the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Sweet they were, delicate, shy, awash in color, and just there, like the finest porcelain, for all to share.

I will shovel my way through the snows of 2016, anticipating the search for Showy Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium Reginae) in northwestern New York state, Georgia orchids if a certain expert there can find the time, and, w/o a guide, but with much gusto, Israeli orchids, including Drone Bee-Orchid (Ophrys Holosericea), Carmel Bee-Orchid (Ophrys Umbilicata), Bee Orchid (Ophrys Apifera), Tawny Bee-Orchid (Ophrys Fleischmannii), Anatolian Orchid (Orchis Anatolica), Loose-Flowered Orchid (Orchis Laxiflora), Pink Butterfly Orchid (Orchis Papilionacea) and Toothed Orchid (Orchis Tridentate). Well, there’s actually one more on my bucket list, if you’re still there, Galilee Orchid.

All of these orchids are rare. All are knockout gorgeous. All exist only in sylvan habitat, always with equally beautiful butterflies nearby. Wish me luck, No?

Jeff . . . Orchid amateur.