A revisit where my love for wild orchids began

[flhiker]

all, I went back to where my passion for orchid and the reason I found the OB. I wanted to check out the Orchids that started it all. We found the original Cyrtopodium punctatum (cigar orchid) with a new growth and a couple other in flower and spike. We also came across some Pine-pink and some Simpson grass-pink. Pictures of the cigar Orchid is of different stages of Flowering. The Simpson grass-pink was spectacular. Thanks for looking

No better way to post my 1000th post

[snow]

i love to see orchids growing in the wild
congrats on you,re one thousand,s post. i sure enjoy them all and you are verry knowledgeable

[Ross]

Just spectacular, Dave. Can't wait to see these puppies in their glory!

[Ely]

Very cool! Are those in the wild naturally, or did you put them there? I like the second photo, right before flowering. Nice!

[flhiker]

Thanks Snow, But I am still a major novice
Waiting on you Ross
Thanks Ely, they grow naturally

[Ely]

Hmmm, no 'borrowing' I presume... I do have a quick question, if an orchid grows in the wild and has a seedpod, is it in bad taste to remove it for personal use?

[flhiker]

That depends on what orchid and where it is. These Orchid are located in the Big Cypress National Preserve. You are not allowed to remove anything, being a National Preseve. The Cigar Orchid is endangered so should never be removed.
But if your on private land and the orchid is not endangered I don't see why not.

[susiep]

I love wild orchids, too. I grew up in Miami and always enjoyed finding them in nature (sure are less places to find them now). Did you walk out in the swamp to take the pictures or were you in a canoe?

[flhiker]

It was about a 4 mile hike to get to the Cigar Orchids

[Djarum Black]

Ohh those are amazing photos! The last image especially just took my breath away! They are all so beautiful