Lily-leaved Twayblade

I haven't had the chance to get out much the past couple of weeks, but I did have an interesting find this afternoon. Lily-leaved Twayblade is a small orchid that seems to grow best in damp open areas of the park. I used to see a lot of it around the food plot on Fern Trail and near the lakeshore behind the Nature Center. Today it was blooming beside Lake Road near the Raptor Center. The flower is another of those weird, buggy-looking flowers found on some orchids.

There is a blooming multiflora rose beside the sidewalk in front of the Nature Center. It is an exotic weed, but it has the best-smelling flowers of any plant in the park. They have that typical "rose" smell, especially early in the morning.

Last week (4-24-2012), I found some Little Brown Jugs in bloom. This is a type wild ginger (Asarum sp.) that is fairly common in the park. There is another species with the common name of Heart-Leaf that we see somewhat less commonly. They are both a special treat, though, because the tiny flowers are hidden beneath mounds of green leaves. The flowers are pollinated by insects that crawl through the leaf litter on the forest floor.

I have not had the chance to check on the Pink Lady's Slippers lately. I have seen some plants coming up, but no flower buds on the ones I saw. They should be in bloom soon, if not now. It is just a matter of finding them. Last year, there was a nice clump of them beside Bays Ridge Road, most of the way to the top of the ridge above Ledbetter Gap. I may try to check on them Sunday or Monday.

Lily-leaved Twayblade

Multiflora Rose

Little Brown Jug (Plant)

Little Brown Jug (Flowers)