We Found Orchids
Header Image: Manyflowered Grasspink (Calopogon multiflorus)
Fortune smiled upon us a few weeks ago. Hiking in an upland pine forest was a bit surreal. One side of the path had recently undergone a prescribed burn, crucial to efficient forest management. The opposite side of the path was in its normal early summer lush green state.
Among the charred remains of the pine woods understory, a small bit of color grabbed our attention. Bits of green were beginning to show everywhere but the pale lavender here and there was unexpected.
In North America, there are five species of Grasspink (Calopogon), a terrestrial orchid. One of those, Calopogon multiflorus, seldom grows above 12 inches tall, may have from 5 to 15 blooms per plant, has a very noticeable aroma (apparently unusual for the Grasspink family) and it requires fire to create the ideal habitat for flourishing. We found a color range from fairly pale pink to magenta.
For the next couple of hours, we found a couple of dozen individual plants. Laying down in charcoal and maneuvering with my arms for a good angle resulted in very dirty arms and clothes and a bit of blood as the little burned stubble of former bushes stabbed at every opportunity.
A few images may help understand why we had a happy day.
Our day was truly special. On advice from a state botanical expert, we won’t share the exact location of our find as this species is threatened in Florida. Hopefully, one of the Grasspink varieties grows in your area and you can find your very own orchid to treasure!
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
Beautiful captures. Fortunately for this threatened plant I wouldn’t know the difference between it and a purple dandelion (if those exist) so it perfectly safe if I ever stumble upon one.
LikeLike
Many subjects I photograph in nature start out by my intellectually superior utterance: “What’s THAT??”. Take a pic, exhaust myself trying to find a match on the internet. Oh, it’s an orchid!
Go find something else the next day and repeat the whole process.
Before you know it, you have become an expert! (As if …..)
Appreciate the kind words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sacrificing your clothes and skin for bringing us these great images of a lovely array of orchids. That was extremely selfless of you.
LikeLike
It’s all part of the service. I mean, the pay is nice, too. (What? Not getting paid for this?? Seriously???)
Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. WP should raise our hourly wages.
LikeLike
It’s hard to describe how thrilling a find like this is but you did a great job. I get so much joy from nature and I get excited to see something out of the ordinary. I braved the heat and got out yesterday. I was rewarded…over and over again! Enjoy your day! Drink lots of water…out of the garden hose if it’s handy! lol Hugs to you both, Diane
LikeLike
You are so right, Diane!
We get a thrill every time we venture out. This one was extra thrilling!
Yeah, we need to buy stock in water bottles.
LikeLike
Yes, I read about how US “climate experts and advisers are looking to change the weather for the whole of mankind and animals. Nobody in the US asked me otherwise I would have asked for a vote and probably decided that the May or September weather of Greece would be ideal. Do you think there are people in the US who mightnmake money from this latest scam? Asking for a friend.
A prescribed burn? And here was me thinking it was climate change and the lack of correct and established procedures and management that was causing recent forest fires in Canada.
Botanical twitchers? We have those too. In fact name anything rare in the animal field and they will go for it. Funny, we don’t have a great number of job twitchers, chasing around looking for work, just many who are too ill to work with their newly invented illnesses and allergies. For instance, our Stop Oil protestors are allergic to soap and therefore unable to work.
You actually gave us all a clue with “upland forest” as everyone know that Florida is essentially sea water and beaches, now ity’s a matter of time before your secret is out.
LikeLike
When we are asked to “follow the science”, we would be closer to the truth if we “follow the money”.
As for “voting” on something as critical as blotting out the sun, well, don’t worry Citizen, WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST!
Humans being the slow learners that we are, it took a a couple of centuries for us to realize that rushing to put out a forest or prairie fire started by lightning was not in the best interest of nature. As for the Canadian fires, there may be “official” as well as “unofficial” prescribed burns.
Botanical twitchers are one thing, but we have orchid thieves who will descend on an area like we found and pull every plant from the ground in an effort to propagate them for commercial exploitation.
Don’t tell anyone we have lush forests here. We invented beaches to save the trees.
Gini says “Hello” and is happy to see you out ringing again. We both hope you and Sue are healthy, wealthy and wise. Even one out of three would be okay.
LikeLike
How interesting! You’d mentioned that there were other Calopogon species in Florida, and here’s the proof. Two things caught my attention: the scent (which ours don’t seem to have, or which I’m not sensitive enough to catch) and the multiple blooms, which explains the specific epithet. I’ve often enough seen plants with two or occasionally three flowers, but ours tend to open sequentially, which leads to a long bloom time for each plant, but not this sort of lushness. The shape of the flower’s essentially the same, but the stems look slightly different, too.
All in all, it’s gorgeous, and I’m so glad you found them! Wise not to spread the word. I’ve heard stories about orchid collectors. And isn’t it fun to see what pops up after a burn? I still remember a large prescribed burn at Brazoria; when I visited a couple of weeks later, the land was covered with Blue Stars — just everywhere. It was as wonderful as this.
LikeLike
Finding this much beauty was a very pleasant surprise. You’re right, It’s amazing what you can find after a burn.
I find myself seeking out spring burn areas so I can return a couple of weeks later.
A land covered with Blue Stars sounds like a lovely land indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those orchids put our British orchids to shame in the beauty stakes, Wally. I’m pretty certain that I could not summon up the dedication that you exhibit here in getting those images. It all sounds too uncomfortable to me. I never get much further than kneeling down, and then I still have difficulty in getting back onto my feet and am inclined to topple over!
All is good here, although I wish the weather was drier and less windy.
My best wishes to you and Gini – – – – Richard
LikeLike
Thank you, Richard. It was a morning filled with beauty.
I never said I didn’t have trouble getting up from the ground! More and more it has become a time-consuming process requiring intricate strategy! 🙂
LikeLike
I would have been tempted to roll around in the mud, too! What a rewarding find. I need to get up to the Big Thicket area north of Houston to try to see some for myself.
LikeLike
For me, it was totally worth it! We’ve been trying to find these for a few years so it was pretty neat to actually see them!
I believe if you begin stalking https://shoreacres.wordpress.com/about-the-writer/, there will be pink in your future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I’ve already bookmarked her recommended locations in the Big Thicket. Crowd-sourcing really works!
LikeLike
Fantastic finds! Glad you didn’t share the location, it lets photographers and nature lovers explore on their own.
LikeLike
Thanks, Brad.
Everything about the encounter was terrific. Of course, wish I had taken more photos ……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t that the way. Time to go back!
LikeLike
Oooooohhhhh!!!!! I envy you those wonderful fully blossomed Calopogons. Our species, C. tuberosus is much like yours but not with such a dense flowered stem. I’ve found a few on occasion with multiple flowers but not so lush. You were there just at the right time as I see a few upper buds still to open and all the lower flowers are nice and fresh. Well worth the shedding of blood.
LikeLike
The timing was good, Steve! We were surprised to find so many plants. They weren’t all in one spot but scattered over a half-mile.
The artist must suffer for true fulfillment. (I was pretty fulfilled after than session!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You found little wonders…
LikeLike
Yes, we did!
It was great. We hope you are having a wonderful week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your blood and cleanliness sacrifice. Definitely a happy day.
LikeLike
I bleed so you don’t have to.
It was a great day, EC! Hope your winter is going well.
LikeLike
Hola Wally,
These shots were worth the bruises I say. 🙂
But I hope those are healing. I wonder what the fragrance is like. Such prettiness. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Natasha! Definitely worth the small nicks and cuts.
The fragrance has been described as strong and pungent. I found it to be subtle and citrus-like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! Just the kind I love.
LikeLike
What a coincidence!
We love them, too!
Hope your day is a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I see why you had a happy day with this “beautiful beard” (which is what Calopogon means).
LikeLike
A unique way to get a pollinator to do its job. “Sit on my beard.”
A good day.
LikeLike