Great Day in the strand
 

:waving all, went to the strand today and saw many wild orchids but what may my day was seeing some Ghost orchids in every stag of life!! The first is a Baby with only leaf of life. The second is a adult plant. The third is a plant with 2 spikes and buds. The fourth is of a double blooming flower. The fifth is a pollinated flower that has developed a seed pod. and the last is of a very old and large Plant. Thanks for looking

:clap: Gotta love those Ghosts :):Tup:

Great walks ...great pics. THANKS

finally I saw this one dave sweet just sweet I got an area I would like to go to but its going to be a long trek I'll eventually make it probably on my own it'll be near a 2-miler, just to get there but I know whats going to be there,,,the PROMISE LAND??????????

I'm not going this weekend, I need the rest. The area you are going to, is it called the "Cathedral"?

Great pics! I especially like the one of the young plant. I've heard about the leaf that these guys sometimes have when young but I'd never seen before. Thanks!

Nice, Dave. Now let me see if I have this right - to see them in bloom I would need to get wet? And bit by mosquitos or gators? Or just look at your wonderful photos ;)

Let me just say that it is not at all as bad as it sounds. The water is around knee high and very clear and clean. The temps. are in the 80's low 90's at the times I go. I like to go early in the morning and get back to the truck around 1:00 before the real heat of the day. Gators are not a issue. they stay in the pond areas. Mosquito's can be a problem if your not prepared. Light weight long sleeves and bug spray. It is definitely worth the effort. For anyone, you don't have to go deep to see some awesome sights. Even if there wasn't ghost orchids this place is worth seeing in person. Unlike anywhere else. I have hike MANY places in Florida and this is by far my favorite place for exploring. Second of course is hiking the Florida Trail.:drool:

I guess my real question (if you were reading between the lines) is that I will be in Ft Myers Beach end of April. You are pretty close. Might I be shown something in bloom then (no GPS, I promise ;) )?

Absolutely!! There are always something in bloom there. But I have to say the best thing to see then is the Beautiful Cigar orchid. Although I don't know of any in the strand but I do know of some around 3 mile hike on the Florida Trail.

That counts! More later (will take to PM as the day nears.) Thanks Dave.