Calypso

[MonikaC]

The smoke from the wildfires in Canada finally blew east a day ago, so I was out on one of my favorite trails today -- thought I'd get some Spring Beauties, maybe still some Pasques. Figured it'd be nice to be able to walk without beating up my lungs. There were some Alpine Bluebells down low, clover, a few Oxytropis (loco). A few Clematis that weren't quite open yet, so I thought I'd catch them on my way back out. I went on a hunt for the perfect Twisted Stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius) when a dot of pink caught my eye. In all of the years I've been hiking this trail, I've never seen Calypso/Fairy Slipper Orchids (Calypso bulbs) there. The biggest bloom was probably a bit over an inch long, the others 25-30% smaller. Each stood alone, not even a half dozen over 40-50' of the trail. Just as I got set up, the clouds came over the sun, making nice, even light.

 

[AlanLichty]

Gorgeous bloom and a beautiful portrait of it. Good eye for finding it in the first place.

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Interesting. You caught a lot of detail for such a small flower!

 

[KevinA]

Lovely shot Monika. Great light and good composition. Colours are nice with good sharpness. Always a treat to see and photograph orchids.

 

[JimFox]

Wow!!! That's so awesome Monika! And it's great to hear that the light cooperated with you too!

 

[MonikaC]

Gorgeous bloom and a beautiful portrait of it. Good eye for finding it in the first place.

Thanks, Alan! I love to find these little gems -- definitely made my day.

 

[MonikaC]

Interesting. You caught a lot of detail for such a small flower!

Thanks, Kurt! Seems like most flowers, no matter how plain they seem at a casual glance, have lots of detail.

 

[MonikaC]

Lovely shot Monika. Great light and good composition. Colours are nice with good sharpness. Always a treat to see and photograph orchids.

Thanks, Kevin! I love finding these little ones.

 

[MonikaC]

Wow!!! That's so awesome Monika! And it's great to hear that the light cooperated with you too!

Thanks, Jim! Thunder was booming as I got up to the meadows, but I managed to stay dry, even with stopping to shoot once on the way back.

 

[Jeffrey]

That is sweet!

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Neat looking flower and nicely done.

 

[MonikaC]

That is sweet!

It made my day!

 

[MonikaC]

Neat looking flower and nicely done.

Thanks, Jameel.