Tag Archives: wildflowers

The quest for the elusive yellow lady slipper continues

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Trail pal Georgia Peach who thru-hiked the AT in 1991 has told me she will help me fulfill my ambition to see an actual, genuine, in-the-flesh yellow lady slipper. Ever since I heard the legendary Georgia wildflower expert Len Foote actually got the route of the Richard Russell Scenic Highway altered when he found a profusion of the rare orchids, I have been determined to see one myself.

So, Georgia Peach got me all optimistic recently when she told me she thought she could take me to see some. Unfortunately, she was unable to locate them. My hopes were dashed.

Then, just yesterday, she sends me this lovely photo of a YLS in all its yellow glory. Turns out she found some. Unfortunately, my plans will not allow me to join her for a look this year. She promises she’ll take me to them next year.

Meanwhile, the old Peregrine must patiently wait to fulfill his years-long ambition to soak in all that sunlit lady slipper glory. At least I can take some solace in knowing that just yesterday I was up close and personally involved with some perfect pink lady slippers.

Stay vertical and keep walkin’!

 

Lady Slippers Make Spring Debut!

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I’m fickle as to what my favorite North Georgia wilderness wildflowers are — pretty much in accordance with whichever one I last saw. For instance, I get all giddy when I hike along and see the first bloodroot thrusting itself into the frosty ambience of early spring. Later in the season, I love the fire pinks, mainly for their color but also for the precise serrated edges of their petals.

But I can’t kid myself. The one that most captures my heart is the first pink lady slipper of spring. It emerges boldly with a pink, perfect bloom — a bit like a tiny roseate birthday balloon dangling downward from a curved stem. Who could not love this tiny harbinger of most everyone’s favorite season?

But as I shamelessly admit, I am fickle. I hope sometime soon to see my first yellow lady slipper. It will probably steal my affections away from the pink. And so it goes. Stay vertical and keep walkin’!