Ram's Head and Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid

Ram's Head and Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids, June 7, 2015

After the Lewis Lake Warbler Walk Ray Staszko, Laura Elliott and I went to the gypsum lands of West Hants County to look for some of our rare orchids.

The Ram's Head Orchid, aptly named, is found along slopes in dappled light. We found about 20 plants before we left although many more were likely in the area. The head of this orchid is about the size of a nickel.

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

Ram's Head Orchid Ram's Head Orchid

The Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid is a much smaller variant than is found on the prairies with a head about the size of a loonie. It was closed along the slopes in full shade and dappled light but fully open on the gypsum flats where it was exposed to full sun. This orchid deserves to be photographed on a cloudy day because the full sun destroyed highlights of the plant.

Here is a bunch of photos:

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