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Tom Nelson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> July orchids and wildflowers 2012 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

July orchids and wildflowers 2012

July 2012 found the Nelsons making a 6,800 mile road trip from NYC to the Rockies and back. Health issues in the family had us leaving a little later than was ideal for good blooming in the Rockies (the drought didn't help !!) but some good orchid sites were visited nonetheless. Our first stop was a quick visit to a well known bog in Pennsylvania that was swarming with prime-blooming white and yellow fringed orchids and their hybrids. Next was a return visit to a site for Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) growing in a hanging garden in the beautiful red rock desert near Moab Utah. It was my fourth visit and it was the most plants (over 100!) that I have ever seen there. In northern Utah I was lucky enough to visit - thanks to some local botanists - a recently discovered population of the federally listed Ute Ladies'-Tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) near my hometown of Logan, Utah. We took the northern route home and Jackie (with her expert orchid eye) spotted a beautiful colony of Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded ladies'-tresses) while observing a huge bull buffalo on the side of the road in Yellowstone Nat'l Park. I managed to photograph them without getting charged! The drought was very bad in the Rockies this year, with very few wildflowers in Colorado and unusually dry, hot conditions everywhere. I hope next year is better...
Platanthera x bicolor 7/13/12 PA
Platanthera x bicolor 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed Orchid) Just opening up! 7/13/12 PA
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed Orchid) Just opening up! 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA
Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA		 Calopogon tuberosos var. tuberosus (Tuberous Grass Pink) with Platanthera x bicolor (in bud) 7/13/12 PA
Calopogon tuberosos var. tuberosus (Tuberous Grass Pink) with Platanthera x bicolor (in bud) 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12		 Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids 7/13/12 PA
Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids 7/13/12 PA		 Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids. Visiting this site was a welcome break from driving! 7/13/12 PA
Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids. Visiting this site was a welcome break from driving! 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA
Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA
Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids 7/13/12 PA
Yellow Fringed & White Fringed Orchids 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA
Platanthera blephariglottis (White Fringed Orchid) 7/13/12 PA		 Christina and Mom tiptoed carefully through the delicate habitat to view the incredible orchid show. 7/13/12 PA
Christina and Mom tiptoed carefully through the delicate habitat to view the incredible orchid show. 7/13/12 PA		 Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Ripening capsules. Check out the very robust leaves! Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Ripening capsules. Check out the very robust leaves! Moab, Utah 7/19/12		 Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) There was ONE diminutive plant that was prime-blooming! A miracle! Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) There was ONE diminutive plant that was prime-blooming! A miracle! Moab, Utah 7/19/12		 Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12		 Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12		 Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12
Platanthera zothecina (Alcove Bog Orchid) Moab, Utah 7/19/12		 Christina & Johanna along the Colorado River near the P. zothecina site. Many famous westerns have been filmed in this area.
Christina & Johanna along the Colorado River near the P. zothecina site. Many famous westerns have been filmed in this area.		 Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) I managed to sneak up on this gorgeous lizard. Arches Nat'l Park 7/20/12
Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) I managed to sneak up on this gorgeous lizard. Arches Nat'l Park 7/20/12 		Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) My hometown of Logan is in the distance. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) My hometown of Logan is in the distance. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12		 Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) The site is in a pasture that is being purchased by a Land Conservancy.
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) The site is in a pasture that is being purchased by a Land Conservancy. 		Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Mendon, Utah 7/27/12		 Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Mendon, Utah 7/27/12		 Castilleja minor var. exilis growing near the Spiranthes. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Castilleja minor var. exilis growing near the Spiranthes. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Emerging plants. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12
Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Ladies'-tresses) Emerging plants. Mendon, Utah 7/27/12		 Local botanist Frank Buddy Smith points to the Spiranthes. This is the only known population in Cache Valley.
Local botanist Frank "Buddy" Smith points to the Spiranthes. This is the only known population in Cache Valley. 		Local botanist Steve Ripple (middle) is working with the landowner to maintain the viability of the population.
Local botanist Steve Ripple (middle) is working with the landowner to maintain the viability of the population. 		Piperia unalascensis (Alaskan Rein Orchid) Tony Grove Lake, Bear River Range, Utah 7/28/12
Piperia unalascensis (Alaskan Rein Orchid) Tony Grove Lake, Bear River Range, Utah 7/28/12		 Piperia unalascensis (Alaskan Rein Orchid) I was so intent on a good close-up I forgot to photograph the entire plant...
Piperia unalascensis (Alaskan Rein Orchid) I was so intent on a good close-up I forgot to photograph the entire plant...		 Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) Note the attractive blue-tinged setting. Yellowstone Nat'l Park 8/4/12
Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) Note the attractive blue-tinged setting. Yellowstone Nat'l Park 8/4/12		 Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) Yellowstone Nat'l Park, across from Canyon Village turnoff. 8/4/12
Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) Yellowstone Nat'l Park, across from Canyon Village turnoff. 8/4/12		 Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) No one could figure out why I was photographing a plant instead of the bison!
Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Hooded Ladies'-tresses) No one could figure out why I was photographing a plant instead of the bison!
Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) This very attractive saprophyte is quite common in the Rockies. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12
Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) This very attractive saprophyte is quite common in the Rockies. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12		 Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) Seeing these helped make up for having missed the Coralroots. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12
Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) Seeing these helped make up for having missed the Coralroots. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12		 Corallorhiza striata (Striped Coralroot) The ripening capsules of this species are very colorful. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12
Corallorhiza striata (Striped Coralroot) The ripening capsules of this species are very colorful. Grand Teton Nat'l Park 8/3/12		 Castilleja sulpuhurea (Sulpher Paintbrush) Mt. Elmer, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Castilleja sulpuhurea (Sulpher Paintbrush) Mt. Elmer, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12		 Hiking on the slopes of Mt. Elmer, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Hiking on the slopes of Mt. Elmer, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12		 Fraseria specosia Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Fraseria specosia Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12		 Fraseria specosia Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Fraseria specosia Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12		 Paintbrush, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Paintbrush, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Lupine, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12
Lupine, Bear River Range, Utah. 7/26/12		 Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) w. Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) Beartooth Pass, Montana. 8/7/12
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) w. Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) Beartooth Pass, Montana. 8/7/12

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Shirley Nelson 20-Aug-2012 16:34
Beautifully done again. So interesting to see the Ute Ladies' Tresses which grow so close to my home town, Logan, Ut.
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