orchid chasers

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I recently heard from my friends Bob and Lynne Davis, a.k.a. the orchid chasers.

"We went to the Obed Wild and Scenic River's Lilly Bluff Overlook Trail just off TN Hwy 62W and found three specimens of Green Adder's Mouth (malaxis unifolia)! Note: just after the flowers have reached their peak, they turn a pale yellow.

"Also in view were large lady slipper leaves, spotted wintergreen in bloom, checkerberry, rattlesnake plantain some with spikes but no blooms as yet, and a few Indian cucumber roots beneath the mixed forest with hemlocks that seem to be really dropping a lot of needles even though it rained there recently. Must be the adelgids.

"Alas, we did not bring the camera, but one compiler stated you would need a good bit of magnification to really show this flower spike with any detail. We weren't looking for these but were checking to see if the goodyera pubescens [rattlesnake plantain] were blooming yet. This makes one look low to the ground and at the trail edges.

"Lilly Bluff overlooks the intersection of Clear Creek and the Obed River."

Thanks, Bob and Lynne

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