NH's state wildflower

[justlearning!!]

These aren't as showy as the other orchids on this site, but they're what I look forward to at this time of the year (the woods around my house are filled with them).

[justlearning!!]

I thought I was finally starting to absorb some basic orchid information (and was pretty sure I put my picture in the right place earlier), but I just checked a website and it said the formal name for these flowers is "Cypripedium acaule".

Is that totally different than a paph or phrag? I'm so confused........

(sorry if it's in the wrong place )

[LJA]

lol Justl!

Yes, it's absolutely in the right place, here in the slipper section.

Not many people have posted pics of Cypripediums--how awesome that NH chose one as its state flower!

Must be really neat to go into the woods for a walk and see all of those in bloom....

Here, we really have to hunt the Cyp. colonies down.

[justlearning!!]

Thanks Louis

It is really cool to have them right in my "back yard" (ok, I admit it, other than a small patch of lawn, I'm surrounded by woods!). Right now the ones here range from a kind of creamy color to pink. That's another thing I've always thought was pretty cool... how they change color, getting darker pink as the bloom matures).

At least it gives us something to look forward to during mosquito/tick season

[bench72]

Nice slipper Justlearning. It's such a buzz to see orchids in their natural habitat. And that is one great looking flower, love the pink and brown colouration on it. It's funny how you took the pic from the side as well, it doesn't show the slipper shape of this flower which combined with the colour is very.. umm unusual!

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Tim

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That bloom is really beautiful. It seems to almost glow from within. Very kewl find. Thanks for sharing it with us here!

Cheers!
BD

[Tanya]

I've never seen Cypripediums except pictures. I think they are really pretty, and I always wonder why not many of you Paph growers grow them. Is it their size, or is it because they are common in your area making them "not hard to get therefore, not worth collecting" thing? I'm sure seedlings of Cyps are legally available, yes?

[Jmoney]

outstanding. must be nice to be able to see actual slippers in the wild.

[Gilda]

Lucky you ,that nature takes care of the cyps for you !! Not too many people get to experience those...they are almost impossible to get to grow in home culture...

[justlearning!!]

After reading the post from bench, it made me wonder why I took the first picture from the side, since all the other slipper pics are taken from the front. I guess I think the way the stems arch is kind of cool... like a swan's neck...

I went out in my jammies this morning (the beauty of not having any close neighbors lol) to try to get a clear pic of the front of one that's at the edge of one of my flowerbeds, and my camera actually cooperated