Saturday, May 24, 2008

Yellow Lady Slipper

Yellow Lady Slipper
Cypripedium parviflorum (or Cypripedium pubescens)

There seems to be a bit confusion on the proper naming of this fey woodland cousin, so I am noting both the Latin names in use for it here in the highlands. This colony is well over a hundred years old, and its blooms are huge and golden yellow - even the leaves are a marvel.

Unlike the Showy Lady Slipper whose blooms are borne vertically and look straight out at their admirers, the yellows tend to lean at peculiar angles, and they peer, nodding, inclined and curious from among their billowing bright green leaves. Yesterday, they glowed like beacons from right across the ridge.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You have a beautiful blog. I scrolled back to preious posts and was amazed to see your beautiful dream in photoshop. My daughter had an almost identical experience (she too is a Saggitarian)recently,and described it just as you did, but she said there was also beautiful Greek/Turkish music. We've never been there, but she said it was quite profound.