I learned perhaps the most important, as well as one of my favorite mottos to live by while exploring the Fakahatchee from Miguel. Whenever I would approach exhaustion on the unimaginably hot summer days that I spent with Miguel searching the Fakahatchee for ghosts, Miguel would always encourage me with just a few simple words as a reminder of how amazing the Fakahatchee is. He would say "Let's keep on going, I need to see something that will blow my mind" and "If you really want to freak out, come check out this spot". Sure enough, he always had something to show me that would indeed blow my mind. I will never forget Miguel's enthusiasm.
I made this my mission statement yesterday when going out with a few friends. Two of the guys I went out with yesterday knew Miguel and had kind things to say about him and were sad to hear the news earlier in the week.
And we did see things that blew my mind. Found a few species I had not seen before, including
Maxillaria crassifolia,
Ionopsis utricularioides and
Epidendrum strobiliferum, although none of these were in bloom.
We did, however, see about 15 Epidendrum nocturnum blooms, dozens of Prostechea cochleata in flower and several Epidendrum rigidum. Because the trip was more focused on exploration, as opposed to photography, I did not spend much time reshooting these orchids. I did, however, force the crew to take five when we came across the following:
Epidendrum amphistomum
These flowers were on perhaps the largest specimen I have ever seen. To top it off, it was a forma rubrifolium.
Prostechea cochleata forma albidoflava
And to top off this Prostechea cochleata, it happened to be forma albidoflava! We caught the tail end of the blooms for this plant this year. I did not quite have my way with this orchid, as it were about 10' up in the tree. I did pull off a few shots I like though. Next year, I'm going to get some crazy shots.
All in all it was a bitter sweet day knowing that Miguel could not be there. I will never forget Miguel and I am sure he will always be in the back of my mind everytime I visit the Fakahatchee.
"Something That Will Blow My Mind"
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