Pure White Fairy Slipper!!!!!!!!!

[ACK2]

Ron, that slipper takes my breath away!! I didn't want to include my introduction here. Am new to the board, but not to orchids.

[ronaldhanko]

Welcome to OB, Susan, and thanks for looking and commenting on my post.

[Justin Parkkonen]

Very awesome find (and photo)! This species has always looked so tropical to me, it seems like a paradox that it is found in some of the colder environments.

Thank you for sharing.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks, Justin, for looking and commenting. I can understand why you say it looks tropical, but when you see it in the woods here it does not look at all out of place.

[greenbean]

I've also heard that with some wildflowers such as Calypso bulbosa, picking the flower can pull at the fragile roots and damage them, reducing the health of the plant and its chances of survival. Do you know of any evidence to support or refute that?

[lambelkip]

I can tell you from personal experience growing this species that picking the flower usually kills the plant. It has very brittle roots which break off very easily. Even dry, dead leaves should be left alone, since trying to remove them can cause serious damage to the plant under the soil.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks for commenting, Evan, and Kip is right - this one is really fragile. It shouldn't be picked and it shouldn't even be disturbed, must less dug up and transplanted. I know a site where there were hundreds of them and when we came all we found were holes - someone had dug them up (for transplanting or sale).

[ACK2]

We have a lovely pink slipper here on the island and have experienced the same thing with selfish people picking/digging them up. I just shake my head with disbelief .

[ronaldhanko]

As a ranger in one of the national parks said of people who were putting their lives in danger, "There's no law against stupidity."

[ACK2]

Touche' Ron. Or as Jeff Foxworthy is quoted as saying......You can't fix stupid!