Orchids. Magnificent flowers. An Orchid has been the national flower of Columbia since 1936, the Flor de Mayo (Cattleya trianae). There are 4,000 species of Orchids in the world and more than 1,500 are only found in Columbia.

Here in Virginia we do have native Orchids but not nearly so many. I’ve seen just a small portion of the 64 species of Orchids that are native to Virginia and have photographed even fewer of them. These, above, are the species Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis).

Here’s Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale) which produces a lone leaf in autumn that stays green during the winter and fades as the plant produces a flowering stalk in the spring.

The incredible, patterned leaves of Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) really impress me. This too is a species of Orchid. It blooms in late summer. Unfortunately I cannot find any of my photographs of its flowers.

And the last of my photos of native Virginia Orchids, the Yellow Lady Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). All of these are not far from my cabin.