Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady's-slipper orchid)

This represents the culmination of a day trip that my partner, Walter Ezell and I took to DuPont State Forest near Cedar Mountain, Transylvania County, North Carolina.

I had been to this area ten days prior, and had seen the orchids in tight bud. I figured that they would be in pretty good shape on this day.

We had heard about this location from my flickr buddy, Kelvin Taylor and his cousin Cathy Howell. But on that trip last year, the orchids had already finished blooming. As you can see, they were in perfect bloom on this trip.

To view many more images of these beauties and to read the details of our trip, please check out Jim's Blog...