Show-off!

We eagerly went for a hike this morning, in the pouring rain, so we could get a glimpse of this rare and stunning native wild orchid.  It's called a Showy Orchis (Orchis spectabilis) and the field guide says this perennial flower is found in moist woods (check), especially beech-maple woods (check), in May or June (check), and should be left undisturbed (check!!!).  It can take orchids 15 years to mature and produce flowers, and the soil and light conditions have to be just right.  What an honor to have one show herself in our woods...and well worth the soggy hike.