Hunting the Wild Ozark Orchids

This morning I wanted to go to a granddaughter’s Kindergarten graduation, but the bridges were flooded, so that was nixed. Then I decided that I’d wait for it to quit raining and then go out to get some better photos of one of the wild Ozark orchids I’d seen the day before while we were working on fences.

Every time I thought the rain had ended, I’d gather the tripod, camera, background board, and head out – only for the rain to start up again. I trudged back and forth like that to the gate a few times before I gave up and decided to just wait until after lunch. If you’d like to take an orchid walk with me one spring day, I offer guided hikes.

Wild Ozark Orchids in May

The orchids that grow in the wild here are the same ones that grow wild in most of the eastern US. It’s nice to have so many of them right here on our property, though. I found three different species today. I know of two or three other species that live here, as well. I just didn’t have time to go looking for them today. And one of them are already finished blooming, the Showy Orchid.

So here’s all of the orchids I’ve found here so far. As I get pictures of them all, I’ll add them here on this post. Eventually, I want to make paintings of them all. The Showy orchid is the only one I’ve painted so far, but I have a pencil drawing of the rattlesnake plantain. It needs a painting, though, so it can coordinate better with the rest of them. Eventually, I’ll have a series devoted to the Wild Ozark Orchids. As I get the paintings done, I’ll add them to this post, too.

Adam and Eve Orchid (Aplectum hyemale)

Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)

Twayblade Orchid (Liparis liliifolia)

Showy Orchid

The greens of orchids are so bright. Unfortunately, I have no light-fast green pigment to paint with if I want to stay true to the Ozark pigments. So, I use the best green I have, and it adds a nice antique feel to the image. This painting is sold, but I have prints!

Two More Wild Ozark Orchids

I haven’t gotten good photos of these yet, but this year I’ll be watching for the rest of the wild Ozark orchids on my list. I believe it’s time now for the Three Birds to bloom so I need to get out to where I last saw them to see if they’re still there. Lady’s Tresses will bloom later in summer.

• Three Bird, or Nodding Pogonia Orchid (Triphora trianthophoros)
• Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes cernua)

Other Scenery

While out on my hunt for the wild Ozark orchids this morning, I took a nice photo of our creek. It’s one of the branches on our creek. This one starts near where our spring is. There’s a pretty waterfall farther upstream, near the area where we were working on the fence yesterday. Most of the time, the flow is fairly slow but with the rain we’ve had over the last few days, it’s really moving along now. So I’ll leave you with this beautiful Wild Ozark creek photo.

Orchid Walks

I do pigment, herb, and orchid walks all year, except when during the hottest days of summer and the worst days of winter.

The best orchid viewing time is mid-to late May when the ones featured above are blooming. Some orchids bloom in fall or have leaves to see at that time, like Goodyera pubescense (Rattlesnake plantain) and Aplectum hyemale (Adam & Eve).

Orchid Walk | See the orchids of Wild Ozark

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