My friend, Melanie hiked up Brasstown Bald on Sunday, for the sole purpose of seeing these wild orchids in bloom.  What a beautiful picture she sent me!!!!  Flowers for Mother's Day!!

 

Botanically, Cypripedium acaule, Lady's slippers are fairly common wild flowers, especially in dry, pine-dominated forests.  They grow in colonies at low to middle altitudes, and bloom in late April, early May here.

 

I remember the first time I saw them growing in the wild, I nearly fainted!!!  I didn't expect to see so many.  As we walked further on the path, they were growing everywhere.  I've read that these orchids require certain microorganisms in the soil to grow successfully.  So transplanting them doesn't work.  Just enjoy seeing them in their own habitat.

 

If you'd like to see them, go up to Brasstown Bald, NOW!!!  Park at the bottom of the road, and hike up the trail that follows the road.  It's about 2 miles up to the parking lot, but you begin to see the orchids at about the 1/2 mile point.  It's not a difficult climb, but you probably want to take your walking stick, cause you will be going UP!!  

 

I hope you know how to identify poison ivy by now, cause it's all over that path too.  Another good use for your walking stick, to move it out of your way.  

 

 

HAPPY WILDFLOWER HUNTING!!!!