It's Lady's Slipper Season in Western MA!

If you've been out in the woods recently, you may have come across a Lady's slipper. This beautiful member of the orchid family - Cypripedium - is a striking, long-lived native wildflower celebrated for its unique pouch-shaped blossom. In MA, these highly specialized wild orchids are currently in peak bloom across New England woodlands, generally flowering from mid-May through June. Fun fact: Lady's slippers survive by tricking local insects. The flower lures bumblebees inside its pouch using its color and sweet scent. Once inside, the bee discovers there is no nectar reward. The rolled petals prevent the bee from escaping the way it entered, forcing it to squeeze through a tight exit at the back of the flower. As it escapes, it is forced to rub against the flower's reproductive organs, successfully depositing and picking up pollen. If you see these lovely flowers, remember that they are protected under the Native Plant Protection Act. Gathering them or digging them up is illegal. In addition, they share an intricate, symbiotic relationship with the fungi in the soil to get nutrients. If you dig them up, they lose this life-support system and will die in your garden. Hopefully, you have a chance to get outdoors this weekend and search for these lovely orchids. This photo was taken on the New England National Scenic Trail Section 5 last Friday.