Katherine had to pick her way across the swamp and through the poison ivy, whacking away at the mosquitos as she went, to capture these pretty things, but she has triumphed. Just in time, too–I really needed someone to paint the fence today. Enjoy your slideshow.
These Michigan orchids are particular favorites of mine. The pink and white ones are Showy Ladyslippers (Cypripedium reginae). The deep rosy pink ones are Pink Ladyslippers, or Moccasin Flowers (Cypripedium acaule). They’re protected. They won’t grow if you try to transplant them, so please don’t try. You can find them all through the Jordan Valley, in swampy areas along the Chain of Lakes in Antrim County, and in secret places, sort of like morel mushrooms. Um, do not eat the ladyslippers.
Torch Lake Views 
P.j. grath
June 21, 2011
Thank you for the flowers this morning. We visited friends last night who usually have ladyslippers this time of year, but I didn’t see any. Did see some twinflowers (much less showy). Your slide show was very welcome!
Gerry
June 21, 2011
I was very happy to have the ladyslippers for you. Katherine has her sources, and makes the most of them. I’ll have to ask her if she’s seen any twinflowers. I have, I think, but not when I could go examine them and take their portraits.
Sybil
June 21, 2011
Wonderful photos Gerry. I was just sitting down to a Lady Slipper salad when I read your post. Phew. That was a close one. 😉
Gerry
June 21, 2011
Don’t they look like they’d make pretty garnishes though? But I think we’d better stick to nasturtiums . . . 😉
Dawn
June 21, 2011
How beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing, otherwise I’d never get a chance to see them!
Gerry
June 22, 2011
These beauties grow in the southern part of Michigan, too. I’ll bet there are some at a nature preserve near you. Now you have a Quest!
mayadogberstkatherine
June 21, 2011
I don’t even know what a twin flower is….. But now thanks to Google I know what they look like. Haven’t seen any though
Gerry
June 22, 2011
I had to look it up too. Now we have a Quest!
Joss
June 22, 2011
Lovely flowers, but they remind me too much of the himalayan balsam that has taken over so many of our local parks. One of these plants can scatter over 1000 seeds 20 feet in every direction, which is why they are so invasive. They grow so tall and so fast that they choke out most native species of wildflower. I have spent many mornings pulling the stuff out at our local park, before it flowers and sets seed. It is so hardy, however, that even the piles of ‘corpses’ which I pulled out two weeks ago are still growing! I hope you are free of it where you are!
Gerry
June 22, 2011
Well of course I had to go googling himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) right away. Mercy. I can see why “balsam bashers” are busy this time of year. The things can grow ten feet tall out in Washington State! (See Policeman’s Helmet information page on Kings County’s list of noxious weeds, and another nice image on Henriette’s Herbals.)
But no, the ladyslippers are nothing like that. They’re slow-growing orchids, native to Michigan, and not the least interested in being transplanted. Ladyslippers aren’t related to the balsam, but we have something else that is. Our native Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) is one of my favorites. I would be surprised to learn that it’s gone invasive anywhere, but I suppose all things are possible. This morning I read that an Emperor penguin had mislaid itself in New Zealand.
uphilldowndale
June 25, 2011
Beautiful, wild orchids are just as exotic to me as the hot house kind.
They are very petite compared to the balsam Joss. We’ve wild orchid in the south of Derbyshire, but not up here.