Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis

Another picture of the Fairy Slipper, Calypso bulbosa. This is the Western Fairy Slipper, with a white beard (just visible) and a brown-spotted lip. It is the first of our native orchids to bloom and is in bloom already at the lowest elevations. We were out yesterday and visited three different places, looking for Fairy Slippers and whatever else we could find. We found a few of these at one of the locations.