First Native Orchids of the Spring

The Fairy Slippers are blooming once again, this year several weeks early. I was in Washington Park and Sharpe Park on Fidalgo Island last week to see them and photograph them. This is the Western Fairy Slipper, found west of the Rocky Mountains and especially in the Cascades, the only variety in our area and distinguished from the eastern variety by the white "beard" and brown markings on the lip.

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