The Orchids are coming

Around this time of year orchids can be seen poking up through the leaf litter of the forests, and also along the moist peatlands(bogs) of the Adirondacks.

This WHITE-FRINGED ORCHIS Platanthera blepharigottis can be found at the Paul Smith’s College VIC:

This ROSE POGONIA Pogonia ophioglossoides can also be found in similar areas:

Look for Grass Pinks or Calapogon tuberosus on bogs:

Earlier in June this PINK LADIES SLIPPER Cypripedium acaule could be found in mixed hardwood/conifer forests:

And several bogs are home to this DRAGON’S MOUTH Arethusa bulbosa:

Photo Credits: (Top photo) Western Spotted Coralroot- Corallorhiza maculata, found along a trail in Henry’s Woods-Lake Placid.

All photos Brian McAllister

Getting to know the Composite family

I always look forward to the gentle slide from late summer to early fall; the cooling nights that require one more layer on the bed; the sounds of crickets calling through the windless nights; and….having to re-learn all the goldenrods that I forgot last fall. This can be a pain in the aster!…sorry.

Anyways, I truly devote a few days each August to carefully look over the latest batch of goldenrods along the trail. But everytime I open the field guide I’m overwhelmed w/the possibilities.

The Peterson Field Guide to Wildflowers devotes 7 pages to the voluminous goldenrod family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide crams 30 species of goldenrod into 4 pages – not to mention the 37 species of aster that follow on the next five pages.

Well, have no fear, the New York Flora Association is here. On their blog they offer a few websites that look specifically at goldenrods and asters. However, I missed the memo on changing the family “Aster” to “Symphiotrichum”. I need a degree in plant taxonomy to understand that change!

Having said all this I think it best for you to go out to your favorite sunny trail and just admire, and learn if you’d like, all the wonderful goldenrods and “asters” that joyously demand our attention.

Locally I’ve enjoyed “botanizing” along the very level trail of Bloomingdale Bog (access off Rout 86 in Saranac Lake or Rout 55 near the hamlet of Bloomingdale) where I just found New York “Aster” growing. Another good site for both species is the north end of Adirondac Loj Road outside Lake Placid. Just by walking(carefully) along the road you might find 5-8 species of goldenrod.

On a walk up Cascade Mt last year, we found a few species of goldenrod that will only grow at higher elevations.  And while walking  over the boardwalk on the Forest Ecology Trail of the Paul Smiths Visitor Center, you will find Bog Goldenrod peaking its yellow head above her fellow bog plants.

Gosh, I’ve run out of time! Looks like next blog I’ll have to talk about the three species of Joe-Pye Weed and 8 species of Sunflower….you gotta love the composites!

Photo Credit: goldenrods among the blueberries-Brian McAllister

A paddle through a peatland

Here’s a short pictorial collection from a wonderful morning paddle through a nearby wetland.

Click on the name to reveal the photo:

Round-leaved Sundew

Rose Pogonia or “Snake mouth”

Pitcher Plant

Marsh Cinquefoil

Large Cranberry -Vaccinium macrocarpon

Swamp Candles or “Yellow loosestrife”

Photo Credit: Flower of the pitcher plant(above) and all other photos-Brian McAllister