This little orchid called “Fairyslipper” or sometimes “Calypso Orchid” is the first to bloom of the dozen or so wild orchids native to this area. It is named after Calypso, a beautiful little sea nymph and the daughter of the god Atlas who was found by Ulysses when he was wrecked on the island of Ogygia in Homer’s Odessey. The name means “concealment” and I think it is an apt name for this flower. They have not been plentiful this year and these two are the only nice specimens that I’ve encountered so far. These two are growing at about 3,600 feet in elevation along the Munson Creek trail (USFS trail 372) in the Teepee-Spring Creek roadless area.
After a nearly unsuccessful attempt to photograph Calypso Orchids in a place where I’m sure to find them every year (mostly what I got was wet; very wet) I ran across some in bloom about three miles up the Munson Creek trail and was able to get a few representative shots of them. They are usually difficult photography subjects because they are small, they grow close to the ground under the brushy cover of other plants and they are very fragile and cannot be handled or touched without damaging or killing them. These are of the same species as the white one of which I posted photos a few days ago but they are the pink color that is most usual for them.
Over the last few days I’ve encountered about a dozen new wildflowers that have started to bloom and I will post photos of them in the coming days, but just before dark this evening on walk in the rain on the Spring Creek trail I found a pleasant surprise and it kind of moved to the front of the line; this white Fairyslipper. I greatly look forward to seeing these shy little orchids bloom each May but I have never before come across a white one.
