Lady's Slipper

28 April 2013    © smck

This is listed formally as Moccasin Flower, Pink Lady's Slipper - of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) - Cypripedium acaule.  Its habitat ranges from Newfoundland, Manitoba south through northern U.S. and southward in the mountains to Georgia.

Never attempt to re-plant these from the wild into your flower garden both because they are somewhat rare and protected by laws and because they seldom survive even in natural areas.  I have personally harvested about 6 seeds and have had luck by planting these in an uncultivated area of my woodland home, of which some are shown here.

I will post another photo set soon showing the maturation of the flower in a few short weeks.