Walter and I made a day trip to a site where we had seen Hexalectris spicata (Crested coralroot orchid) last year. In my opinion, this is one of the prettiest of our native terrestrial orchids.
They grow in a beautiful glade on the very top of Stone Mountain in Allegheny County, North Carolina. They were in tip top shape, and I've never seen them as pretty as they were, today.
The day started out rather disturbingly with me forgetting my camera bag and Walter finding out (when we got to the top of the mountain after a 2-hour hike in 95 degree temperature) that he had left the image card for his camera at home! Fortunately, I didn't forget my camera which had my 105mm macro lens attached.
We ended up sharing my camera and my tripod and a couple of additional lenses that Walter had managed to bring in his camera bag. All turned out very well except........ When we left the park and had driven an hour down the road, Walter discovered that he had lost his cell phone somewhere in the park! No way were we going back to look for a camera in the woods (after another 2-hour hike to the top).
"So fair and foul a day I have not seen." (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3) Shakespeare
When we arrived home, there was a phone message that indicated a woman had found the cell phone somewhere on the trail.
All's well that ends well... (The name of another Shakespeare play). ;-))
Tags: Stone Mountain State Park North Carolina Allegheny County orchids Hexalectris spicata Crested coralroot orchid mountaintop woods wildflowers Olymps E-510 ZD Zuiko 50mm
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We made a trip on August 2, 2009 to look for and photograph a beautiful, native terrestrial orchid called Crested coralroot. This orchid does not have leaves, and it uses an underground fungus to provide its food. In my opinion, it is one of our prettiest native orchids.
Oddly enough, it usually prefers a basic (not acidic) soil type, so it is very unusual that it be found on top a granite dome. However, here they were. This particular species and location is mentioned in Stan Bentley's book, "Native Orchids of the Southern Appalachian Mountains".
Tags: Stone Mountain State Park North Carolina orchids Hexalectris crested coralroot orchid mountains granite bald
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Long day trip to Stone Mountain State Park in Wilkes County, North Carolina with Walter Ezell to photograph the irresistible, Hexalectris spicata or Crested Coralroot orchid -- one of North America's most beautiful native terrestrial orchid species.
To read the full trip report, please go to Jim's Blog.
Tags: Hexalectris spicata Crested Coralroot orchid wildflowers orchids Stone Mountain State Park Wilkes County North Carolina Sony a7rii 90mm
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Full day's trip to Stone Mountain State Park in Alleghany County, North Carolina looking for Hexalectris spicata or Crested Coralroot orchid. We were marginally successfull in our quest, finding about a dozen plants of which only 3 had open flowers.
To check out the full trip report, please go to Jim's Blog.
Tags: Hexalectris spicata Crested Coralroot orchid North Carolina Stone Mountain State Park wildflowers orchids Sony a7rii 90mm Alleghany County
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Long day trip to Stone Mountain State Park in Wilkes County, North Carolina with Walter Ezell to photograph the irresistible, Hexalectris spicata or Crested Coralroot orchid -- one of North America's most beautiful native terrestrial orchid species.
To read the full trip report, please go to Jim's Blog.
Tags: Hexalectris spicata Crested Coralroot orchid wildflowers orchids Stone Mountain State Park Wilkes County North Carolina Sony a7rii 90mm
© All Rights Reserved