Wow! Your pics are great, Dave! It's the best way to 'collect' a orchid in the wild, congrats! I've no idea about the 'wild flower', but it is cute!
Frederico
How beautiful they are! Really wonderful finds! Thank you so much for sharing them and by all means pleaseee if you stumble on more I know I'd love to see! I almost never get an opportunity to hike anywhere or do any traveling. The closest I often ever get are pictures.
Great photos! Yes, those are Bletia purpurea... purple coloration will differ in different areas (though I do not know why). When I made the record for Bl. purpurea in Sarasota County, there were an equal population of albino and purple forms. Many were deep purple, others were pink. Perhaps it is the pH that has an influence on the purple and pink, but I can't explain why there were so many albinos!
-Pat (not bored in the least of seeing your pics!)
Dave, Your "wildflower" is Ascpias curassavica or Blood Flower. It is a relative of the common milkweed. It is not native here, but has been widely planted and has escaped in parts of Florida wilds. It is origianlly from Curacao in the Caribbean.
I'm a lover of all Aclepiads and this is a very nice one. The correct spelling is Asclepias curassavica though. Love to see these types of pictures. I'm very jealous that you can find those.