Flame Azalea and Pink Lady's Slipper

I went for a little walk on my day off and came out with some pretty cool flower sightings. Flame Azalea is one of those shrubs that stands out in the woods when it is in bloom. I always enjoy seeing that bright orange color against the green of the late spring woods.

Pink Lady's Slipper is one of those iconic wildflowers that almost everyone recognizes and appreciates. They are one the more common of our native orchids in the park, but the blooms are a little hard to find sometimes. I seem to miss them because of timing or location many years. One of the old locations has dwindled to just a few plants that haven't bloomed in several years. Very often, I just don't have time to get out this time of year.

Mountain Laurel is another beautiful late-spring-blooming shrub. The flowers vary from almost white to a very bright pink. The unopened flower buds have a very interesting shape, as well.

Flame Azalea

Pink Lady's Slipper

Mountain Laurel

May 5, 2012: Pink Lady's Slipper, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea, Bullhead Lily, Summer Bluet, Bluet, Firepink, Hawkweed, Vaccinium sp. (Blueberry relative), Wild Geranium, Lyre-leaved Sage, Yellow Stargrass, Balsam Ragwort, Southern Ragwort, Maple-leaf Viburnum, Oxeye Daisy, Hearts-a-Bustin', Galax, Bristly Locust, Wild Comfrey, False Solomon's Seal, Fleabane, Lily-leaved Twayblade