Triphora trianthophora (Three-birds orchid) in bud

The purpose of visiting the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina was to (hopefully) photograph open flowers of the Three-birds orchid. They are notoriously difficult to find in flower, and will stay in bud until a certain combination of weather and temperature cause the buds to open (for just a single day).

A friend had just reported that they had bloomed in two consecutive "waves" in Connecticut, and I figured they may have already bloomed down this way. Well, not yet... I'll try again in a couple of days.