Out hunting yesterday we waited for the first cast in a grove filled with Lady Slippers. For those of you not acquainted with this lovely flower, it’s a type of orchid that grows in forested areas along side ferns. It’s never been a flower that grows in abundance and it’s becoming even more rare as it’s natural habit is taken over by housing developments. It’s now considered an endangered plant which is really a shame. I spoke to someone who has lived in my town for several decades and she told me they used to be all over the trails.

The flower is aptly named as it resembles a lady’s slipper and in New England, it’s a pink slipper. This variety is also called the Moccasin flower.

I’ve seen quite a few this spring; more than in the past few years. This is encouraging. Of course, maybe I’ve just been in the right place at the right time. I’ve read that some varieties of Lady Slipper take 15 years to bloom. That’s a long time to wait!