Mountain Lady's-Slipper (Cypripedium montanum)

Neither does the wisest man exhort nature’s secrets, and lose his curiosity by finding out all of her perfection. Nature never becomes a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they delighted the simplicity of his childhood.

Nature     Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

This orchid has to be one of my favorite wildflowers. It is gorgeous! It is also quite rare. Furthermore, it is usually done blooming before I arrive in Wawona in mid-June. Each year when I first arrive, I go searching for this elusive flower. Sometimes I find it and sometimes I don't. This year was a bonanza!

Historically, the root of Lady's Slipper was used as a sedative to treat anxiety, stress and even epilepsy.

Some of these forest photos were shot near dusk. I needed a little more light on the flowers, so I took off my lightly colored tee shirt to use as a reflector (Good thing I was deep in the woods!). I was laying on the ground with ants crawling beneath me and mosquitoes swarming above, so I hope you enjoy my efforts.

If you are interested in learning more about this beautiful flower click the link to my co-worker, Ranger Bob's explanation why he considers this plant to be deceitful!

http://bit.ly/aRNVwo