Spiranthes longilabris (Long-lipped ladies'-tresses orchid)

What a way to end the orchid season down in the Southeast. One of the main reasons for my going to the Green Swamp (on the Carolina coastal plain) was to photograph one of the scarcest ladies'-tresses orchids in the Green Swamp. Although we didn't find a large number of this species on the trip, what we did find was in perfect bloom.

Along for the ride were David McAdoo, Skip Pudney, Ben Rostron, Jared Barnes, and me. Ben came all the way from Alberta, Canada, but this was not his first trip to the Green Swamp. He visited earlier in the year to photograph the wonderful fringed orchids found in the area.

A great time was had by all, and we can hardly wait until the spring orchid season so we can all get together again...