These unique little wildflowers are found in the midwestern United States (perhaps elsewhere, but definitely in Illinois and Michigan), growing in forests and other natural habitats. Here were directions I had for finding them on Beaver Island:
1. You know the Welke airport runway? Where it goes into Kings Highway?
2. Well there are the two driveways on either side. Go to the one just north of the runway and pull in there - you can leave the car there.
3. Cross Kings Highway and walk down into the ditch.
4. Oh, wear long pants and socks -- lots of mosquitoes there!
5. Once down in the ditch look toward the back of the lower level and you'll see some clusters.
6. Better go soon, they won't last long.
I followed the directions, had the added bonus of a plane taking off right over my head (but too close to focus quickly enough with my 105mm macro). Tramped about in the ditch looking for a clump that wasn't past its prime, and was rewarded by finding about 4 clusters that were just beautiful.
Today's June word was green so while taken yesterday, I did process today and decided to post in color to keep the greens. Planning to post the monochrome version in my extras album.
Posted: http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2013-06-20
@mrsvanpatten The pink ones that come out at the end of the month into early July are called Showy Lady Slippers here. They really are gorgeous show-offs and I hope to find them -- they're off a different area of the same road, but further south so I have to start hunting in another week.
Thank you all for commenting on the flower. It was cool for me to see that many of you had not seen these before. I also agreed with several of you who noted that they really do look like slippers.
@willowdragon Thanks Al. When I first started photographing them, I thought the twisted part was some junky thing in the way -- then realized the integral part they were to the flower!
@taffy Thanks. I just guested. I always use the Latin names because they are the same all over the world . And when I go to Wikipedia I get the Dutch name too.
@danielwsc Thanks Daniel. I do think the color captures the flower as it is. That's lost a bit in the monochrome. They're so pretty to see popping up in the middle of much taller growth and it's the yellow that captures our eye.
Lovely shot Taffy with vibrant colour and I see why they would be called Lady's slippers. Love the instructions but I would keep away as me and mosquitoes don mix well.
A beautiful capture of this wonderful flowers. They look very much the same as Paphiopedilum orchids
@pyrrhula I think that is the Latin name for them. At least for some of the varieties of them.
@timandelke @kerristephens
Thank you all for commenting on the flower. It was cool for me to see that many of you had not seen these before. I also agreed with several of you who noted that they really do look like slippers.
Thanks so much Inge, Kali, and Aferin. I agree that these are unique -- and that the name fits to a T!