Compendium of Spring Orchids of Nova Scotia

Compendium of Nova Scotia's Spring Orchids

Orchids and Warblers seem to go together. Both species thrive in Nova Scotia and are a treat to see and photograph. First up this year for the orchids is the Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid photographed in late May at the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, Halifax. They are just beginning to open, but just wait a week.

Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid

Pink Ladys Slipper Orchid

Pink Ladys Slipper Orchid Pink Ladys Slipper Orchid Pink Ladys Slipper Orchid Pink Ladys Slipper Orchid

Ram's Head Orchid

We made an effort to locate this orchid. It resides in dappled light along slopes in the gypsum lands of West Hants County. I walked past the orchid on my first pass but eventually I spotted it with my binoculars on the return leg and then there were lots of examples.

Ram's Head Orchid Ram's Head Orchid Ram's Head Orchid Ram's Head Orchid

Ram's Head Orchid

Ram's Head Orchid

Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid

The Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid thrives in the same soil conditions as the Ram's Head Lady's Slipper but it can withstand full sun so where the two orchids were co-located in the shade or dappled shade the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid was still closed. We found the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid on the gypsum flats in exposed and sun drenched grounds.

Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid

Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid

Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid

Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid

We returned to the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, to photograph the Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid in early June. They were mostly open or partly open now. They thrive in this environment of dappled to full shade under the forest canopy.

Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper

These are partial whites.

Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper Pink Lady's Slipper

Dragon's Mouth Orchid

This orchid just made it under the wire opening two days before the beginning of summer. In the first week or two of the summer season the wet bogs of the coastal barrens will be loaded up with this species.

Dragons-mouth Orchid Dragons-mouth Orchid Dragons-mouth Orchid

White Lady's Slipper Orchid

The White Lady's Slipper Orchid is a colour morph of the Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid although it is certainly different in appearance. Finding partial whites is easy but finding a large pure white is hard. We lucked out at Card Lake Provincial Park about two hours before the beginning of summer.

White Rhodora White Rhodora White Rhodora