Sunday, June 26, 2022

Rose Pagonia Orchids

 

Hunting for wild orchids in the New Jersey pine barrens is one of my favorite summer activities. Last week I visited a bog full of these pretty pink rose pagonia orchids.

See the colorful fringe on the flower's lower lip? It's the inspiration for one of the flower's other common names -- the snake mouth orchid.

These orchids are not just pretty. They smell delicious, like sweet raspberries. 

Look for rose pagonia orchids in wet places, especially where sphagnum moss grows.

So pretty! Click to enlarge.

This remote spot where I saw all these orchids brings to mind words attributed to Confucius: "An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it." 

No comments:

Post a Comment