A Land Like This One

I finally remembered to take a photo of the shelter


I put up my trail cam last week - check out my first capture! It's a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) <3


The blue flag irises (Iris versicolor) are in bloom along the brook


So is the woodsorrel (Oxalis montana)


And check out this gorgeous moth! I think it's a Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)

I spent a lovely, warm Saturday adoring my land and its inhabitants.





Isn't it gorgeous?


The northern wood sorrel is blooming (Oxalis montana)


And the cucumber root's funny-looking flowers (Medeola virginiana)


As are the pink lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule)


I was really excited to find blue flag irises in bud (Iris versicolor). They'll be gorgeous soon!


I also found this crazy-looking fungi. It was poking up all over in the swampy areas. I haven't figured out what it is yet.


I always go there intending to get a bunch of things done, like improving the bridge and laying out trails, and then all I manage to do is adore the land. Oh well :)

Pink lady's slipper orchids are identifiable as soon as they emerge. The leaves poke up tightly furled and fuzzy, with veins running parallel up their length.









Isn't it gorgeous? This plant is a huge part of the reason I got interested in botany. A friend pointed out the leaves on a hike and told me it was an orchid native to New England. My mind was blown. I had always thought of orchids as something exotic and tropical. I had no idea they grew here. I had to know more, and it all snowballed from there.

In fact, there are around 50 species of orchid in New England. One of my goals is to eventually find them all. I have seen 17 so far, including 1 hybrid. There is so much to learn!

Clintonia (Clintonia borealis) is also called blue bead lily.











The yellow flowers are followed by rather unreal-looking bright blue berries. I'll add a photo when they arrive.