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Tom Nelson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> 2011 Orchid Trip Part 4: Vancouver Island tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2011 Orchid Trip Part 4: Vancouver Island

Following our very productive time in the Canadian Rockies, we spent six wonderful days exploring the magic of Vancouver Island. Though not as orchid-rich as the North Woods and the Rockies, we nonetheless found an nice array of 8 orchid species and varieties, including two (for us) new ones. Wonderful old growth forests, pristine beaches and the timeless influence of the Native American culture were some of the other attractions.

The highlight for me was meeting up with consummate Vancouver Island-based botanist Dr. Hans Roemer. We spent a day, along with orchid photographer Ron Hanko and Hans's associate Ryan Batten, exploring a remote and fascinating fen that was brimming with several Platanthera species, including the object of our search: Platanthera chorisiana (Chamisso's orchid). Afterwards, Hans invited us to his home to show us the native orchids growing on his property and then, to top it all off, his lovely wife Heidi generously fortified us with much needed coffee and pastries after a long day in the field.

Other highlights included Butchart Gardens, one of the finest formal gardens in the world, and the old world civility of the city of Victoria.

Click on the images to enlarge them or view the slideshow. It really helps!

Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) with spider. Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) with spider. Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) same plant in habitat, without black background. Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans (elegant piperia) same plant in habitat, without black background. Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia elegans at nearby Provincial Park. 7/21/11
Piperia elegans at nearby Provincial Park. 7/21/11		 Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
Piperia transversa (flat-spurred piperia) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 A pretty little lily, Brodiaea coronaria (harvest brodiaea) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11
A pretty little lily, Brodiaea coronaria (harvest brodiaea) Hans Roemer's property. 7/21/11		 Christina with pacific madrone tree (Arbutus menziezii) Hans Roemer's property. 7/22/11
Christina with pacific madrone tree (Arbutus menziezii) Hans Roemer's property. 7/22/11		 Johanna, Jackie and Christina, Hans Roemer's property. 7/22/111
Johanna, Jackie and Christina, Hans Roemer's property. 7/22/111		 Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.
Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.		 Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.
Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.		 Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.
Epipactis helleborine (broad-leaved helleborine) Introduced European species, considered a weed by many. Hans Roemer's property.
Orchid hunting: From left to right, Ron Hanko, Dr. Hans Roemer and Ryan Batten. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Orchid hunting: From left to right, Ron Hanko, Dr. Hans Roemer and Ryan Batten. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata with Eriophorum angustifolium (tall cottongrass) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata with Eriophorum angustifolium (tall cottongrass) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 We explored a beautiful fen, full of bear scat! Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
We explored a beautiful fen, full of bear scat! Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Cottongrass is a very attractive sedge. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Cottongrass is a very attractive sedge. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana (Chamisso's orchid) The diminutive object of our search. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana (Chamisso's orchid) The diminutive object of our search. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana close-up. A bizzare looking orchid up close. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana close-up. A bizzare looking orchid up close. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana close-up. It looks like a cross between Brussels Sprouts and an alien... Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana close-up. It looks like a cross between Brussels Sprouts and an alien... Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana, extreme close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana, extreme close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana in habitat with the taller Platanthera stricta in the back. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana in habitat with the taller Platanthera stricta in the back. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana, habitat. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana, habitat. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana, same plants with black background. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana, same plants with black background. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera chorisiana close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera chorisiana close-up. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Platanthera stricta (slender bog orchid) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Platanthera stricta (slender bog orchid) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Ron Hanko photographing in the fen. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Ron Hanko photographing in the fen. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 There were many floral beauties: Gentiana douglasiana (swamp gentian) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
There were many floral beauties: Gentiana douglasiana (swamp gentian) Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Ron, Hans and Ryan. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11
Ron, Hans and Ryan. Vancouver Island, 7/21/11		 Jackie at Cathedral Grove, Macmillan Provincial Park, Vancouver Island. 7/20/11
Jackie at Cathedral Grove, Macmillan Provincial Park, Vancouver Island. 7/20/11		 Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) Past prime. We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis (Ozette coralroot) We found a new population. MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Tom photographing Ozette's coralroot at MacMillan P. Park. We could only find these two plants. (Johanna Nelson) 7/20/11
Tom photographing Ozette's coralroot at MacMillan P. Park. We could only find these two plants. (Johanna Nelson) 7/20/11
A nearby Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (spotted coralroot) MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11
A nearby Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (spotted coralroot) MacMillan P. Park, 7/20/11		 Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Giant Sitka Spruce, Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Giant Sitka Spruce, Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Giant horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Giant horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Giant horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Giant horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11		 Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Pacific Rim Nat'l Park, near Tofino, BC. 7/19/11
The wild Pacific coast near Uclulet, BC. 7/18/11
The wild Pacific coast near Uclulet, BC. 7/18/11		 The elegant Butchart Gardens near Victoria, BC. 7/20/11
The elegant Butchart Gardens near Victoria, BC. 7/20/11		 The historic Parliment building, Victoria, BC. 7/22/11
The historic Parliment building, Victoria, BC. 7/22/11		 The skyline of Vancouver, BC (which we visited on the way to the island) as viewed from Stanley Park. 7/14/11
The skyline of Vancouver, BC (which we visited on the way to the island) as viewed from Stanley Park. 7/14/11		 Bon Voyage! On the ferry to Port Angeles, Washington and Olympic Nat'l Park. 7/22/11
Bon Voyage! On the ferry to Port Angeles, Washington and Olympic Nat'l Park. 7/22/11

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shirley nelson 15-Sep-2011 18:26
Another fantastic group of photos - - most enjoyable!
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