The leaves are about half an inch long in real life...

I wish you a very pleasant weekend!

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Thank you for your kind visit!!!

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Couldn't think of a good title, today's date be it! 😄

Photo was taken near sunset in a Houston city park (can't remember which one 🤔)...

Wishing you a very happy 02/22/2022!

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It was my first time seeing and learning about this unusual shaped orchid.

Here are the "10 Essential Facts About Lady’s Slipper Orchids:

1) A Unique Flowering Orchid: Lady’s Slipper Orchids are named for the distinctive pouch-like shape of their flowers, which resemble a slipper or shoe.

2) Lady’s Slipper Orchids are Native to Many Regions Globally: These orchids can be found worldwide, from North America to Europe and Asia.

3) A Clever Pollination Strategy: The slipper-shaped pouch serves as a trap for pollinators. Insects enter the pouch and are forced to crawl past the surface and pollen, leading to pollination as they try to find a way out.

4) These Orchids Are Considered Endangered Species: Many Lady Slipper Orchids species are endangered or threatened due to habitat destruction, illegal collection, and other environmental factors.

5) Mycorrhizal Relationships: Lady’s Slipper Orchids form a symbiotic relationship with specific fungi in the soil. This relationship is crucial for the orchid’s seeds to germinate and grow.

6) Challenging to Cultivate: Due to their reliance on specific fungi and precise habitat conditions, these orchids can be challenging to cultivate outside their natural environment.

7) Lady’s Slipper Orchids Showcase an Array of Colors: While they might be known for their iconic pink and white shades, they also come in various colors, including yellow, red, and green.

8) Medicinal Properties: Some Native American tribes used Lady’s Slipper Orchids for medicinal purposes, often as a remedy for nervousness, tooth pain, or insomnia.

9) Long Lifespan: In the right conditions, individual Lady’s Slipper Orchid plants can live for several decades.

10) Evolutionary History: Fossil records suggest that the Cypripedioideae subfamily, to which the Lady’s Slipper Orchids belong, dates back around 80 million years."

Thank you for your visit, I'll catch you next time! 🌷🌷🌷

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Got this lucky shot yesterday of this one and only monarch butterfly that I encountered on a hike! 😁

Tags:   Composition Outdoor Canon EOS R5 Full Frame Mirrorless ThroughHerLens Nature Duke Farms New Jersey Monarch Butterfly Butterfly Orange RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM Macro bokeh

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