Douglas Sherman
Staff
Showy Lady's-slippers are among the most beautiful flowers in North America. Like most beautiful things they are coveted and thus are in decline in most areas in which they exist. At one time they were so plentiful that they were gathered routinely for Sunday church services during late June to early July, which is their typical blooming period. Growth of towns have reduced their habitat and also caused deer population densities to increase which further reduced their numbers (deer love to eat the flowers).
One of the exceptions to this scenario is the Purden Conservation Area near Lenark, Ontario, Canada. Over 16,000 plants exist there as a result of the efforts of Joe Purdon, a farmer who recognized the potential for creating a preserve on his property. He pollinated these plants by hand to create the thousands of plants that exist today.
Showy Lady-slippers are the state flower of Minnesota. Interestingly, the first declaration of the state flower in 1893 cited was Cypripedium calceolus. This plant is the yellow lady's-slipper. This mistake was quickly recognized and the proper name, Cypripedium reginae, was substituted.
Over ten thousand Showy Lady's-slippers exist along the Showy Lady's-slippers Scenic Highway, a 28 mile stretch of County Highway 39 between the towns of Black Duck and Cass Lake, MN.
Showy Lady's-slippers, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
Showy Lady's - slipper bud, near Ontonagon, MI
Showy Lady's-slippers, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
Showy Lady's-slippers, near Ontonagon, MI
A Showy Lady's-slipper about to open, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
One of the exceptions to this scenario is the Purden Conservation Area near Lenark, Ontario, Canada. Over 16,000 plants exist there as a result of the efforts of Joe Purdon, a farmer who recognized the potential for creating a preserve on his property. He pollinated these plants by hand to create the thousands of plants that exist today.
Showy Lady-slippers are the state flower of Minnesota. Interestingly, the first declaration of the state flower in 1893 cited was Cypripedium calceolus. This plant is the yellow lady's-slipper. This mistake was quickly recognized and the proper name, Cypripedium reginae, was substituted.
Over ten thousand Showy Lady's-slippers exist along the Showy Lady's-slippers Scenic Highway, a 28 mile stretch of County Highway 39 between the towns of Black Duck and Cass Lake, MN.
Showy Lady's-slippers, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
Showy Lady's - slipper bud, near Ontonagon, MI
Showy Lady's-slippers, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
Showy Lady's-slippers, near Ontonagon, MI
A Showy Lady's-slipper about to open, Ridges Sanctuary, WI
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