Lady’s Slippers 75 and counting

Dave invited us down to see the Lady’s Slippers.  He lives on the property that we used to own…Pine Springs Resort…it is no longer a resort but a private home.

Far Guy found these Lady Slippers in June way back in about 1987, there were two blooms that year, peaking up around a log on the log pile.

We built a fence to protect them and from then on we have enjoyed seeing the clump get larger and larger.

 

I counted at least 75 blooms this year.  2 blooms that first year and 29 years later there are over 75…amazing!

They are just beautiful!  Her real name is Cypripedium reginae or Showy Lady’s Slipper the State Flower of Minnesota.

Here is one view of the lake.

I kinda miss living on the lake, Far Guy does not.  We met many wonderful people from all walks of life and it was a good place to raise teenage girls.  Neither of us miss cleaning  cottages, and Far Guy doesn’t miss the 90 mile one way compute to work.  He commuted daily for just about ten years.

 

Blooming Wildflowers

If you live in Minnesota the Showy Lady’s Slippers are in full bloom.

This is the bunch that Far Guy saved years ago at our old resort. He found them one day in June years ago coming up on both sides of a log. The group has gotten larger and larger.  We stopped by for a few photos! 

 

The Blue Flag Iris is in bloom near the Dead Beaver area.

The Smooth Solomon’s Seal is just finishing up.

The little blooms are hidden under the foliage..I practically had to lay on the ground for this photo.  This plant is on the edge of our driveway.  It is special..because it is the only one I know of in our area.  They may be more deep in the woods..but I stay out of there because of the Poison Ivy.

Aldo Leopold wrote “ During every week from April to September there are, on the average, ten wild plants coming into first bloom.  In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds in a single day.”

I enjoy watching the native plants… waiting for the first blooms.  After years and years of watching native plants they do not disappoint they always bloom with a week or ten days of when they did last year..Leopold calls them Prairie Birthdays. I guess that works for me:)

Wildflowers: June 10, 2010

Minnesota's State flower or Cypripedium reginae or the Showy Lady's Slipper are beginning to bloom. This is at least a week earlier than most years. We were at the neighbors and they said..take some photos of our Lady  Slippers....so I did.  These are the first ones that we have found in complete bloom, they do have a sunny spot, there was lots of PI(Poison Ivy) in the area..so it was difficult to get close..they keep hollering at me the entire time "Hey Con, watch out for the Poison Ivy." .. helpful neighbors.  Far Guy was of no help, he hollered ""Hey Con, watch out!"  watch out for what..I am half in and out of a sswamp...there is PI and who knowsss what elsssse.  I have seen ssssnakes at this place before, Chance is in the car and Tackle Box is off begging for food from one of the guests, and I do not have my magic red snake repelling boots on.

The Showy Lady's Slippers can be found in our area in the ditches and at the edge of swamps from now through the end of June unless it gets real warm..then they will fade fast. This is just one of my favorite Orchids that are native to Minnesota.

MY garage has been cleaned out in preparation for a garage sale,  the "stuff" is marked and I am ready to make my fortune in the next day or two..I have a great group of gals that are going to join me..we are all going to sell off "stuff" that we no longer use..they have some pretty good "stuff" too as I have already purchased some of it.  Far Guy is dragging his heels, every time I enter his garage and say "Doncha have something over here in this huge mess that you want to sell?"  he gives me one item at a time to dust off and put a price tag on.  Today I suppose he will lock all his doors:)