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Tom Nelson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> 2011 Orchid Trip Part 1: Grand Marais MI and Bemidji MN tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2011 Orchid Trip Part 1: Grand Marais MI and Bemidji MN

On July 1st the Nelson family of New York City embarked on their 5 week cross-country "Grand Orchid Tour 2011". 43 species and varieties of native orchids were seen, along with lots of amazing scenery.

The first area that we visited on our way west was the incredibly orchid-rich habitat in the Grand Sable Dunes area of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Grand Marais, Michigan where 12 species were found. Thanks to Michigan orchid friends Al Menk And Steve Baker, we now know where these pockets of natural splendor are. Steve showed me a past bloom population of Listera auriculata in 2010; this year the plants were prime!

In 2010 Minnesota native Robert Freeman guided us to an equally orchid-rich bog near Lake Itasca State Park south of Bemidji, Minnesota where 9 species were found. Last year we tracked down the elusive Malaxis paludosa in bloom in this bog; this year hundreds of showy lady's-slippers (Minnesota's state flower) lit up the landscape. Wow!

Click on the images to enlarge them or view the slideshow. It really helps!


Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) sized. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) sized. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) just beginning to open up. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid) just beginning to open up. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid). Habitat. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie's pad-leaved orchid). Habitat. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Platanthera hookeri (Hooker's Orchid) Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11		 Goodyera tesselata (Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain) Leaves. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Goodyera tesselata (Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain) Leaves. Grand Sable Dunes, MI 7/3/11
Tom searching a riverbank for the elusive Listera auriculata, accessible only from the stream! 7/3/11 (Johanna Nelson)
Tom searching a riverbank for the elusive Listera auriculata, accessible only from the stream! 7/3/11 (Johanna Nelson)		 Success! The Listera grows on the far bank, in the spot illuminated by the sun. I sat on a milk crate to photograph...
Success! The Listera grows on the far bank, in the spot illuminated by the sun. I sat on a milk crate to photograph...		 Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Habitat. Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Habitat. Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera auriculata (Auricled Twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Beautiful Sable Falls. Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Beautiful Sable Falls. Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11
Listera convallarioides (broad-lipped twayblade) Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore, MI 7/3/11		 The welcoming committee at the entrance to the bog. Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11
The "welcoming committee" at the entrance to the bog. Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) 7/4/11
It was very hot, so most of the early orchids were past. Platanthera aquilonis (northern green bog orchid) 7/4/11
It was very hot, so most of the early orchids were past. Platanthera aquilonis (northern green bog orchid) 7/4/11		 Platanthera aquilonis (northern green bog orchid) close-up. 7/4/11
Platanthera aquilonis (northern green bog orchid) close-up. 7/4/11		 Dr. Charles Sheviak thought this specimen had some charecteristics of Platanthera hyperborea, but needed more photos. 7/4/11
Dr. Charles Sheviak thought this specimen had some charecteristics of Platanthera hyperborea, but needed more photos. 7/4/11		 Malaxis unifolia (green adder's-mouth orchid) 7/4/11
Malaxis unifolia (green adder's-mouth orchid) 7/4/11		 The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11		 The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11		 The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11		 The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11		 The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11
The large stands of Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) growing in this bog are truly amazing! 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae, close-up 7/4/11		 If one wants roadside showy lady's-slippers, this is the place! 7/4/11
If one wants roadside showy lady's-slippers, this is the place! 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) View from the car window. Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) View from the car window. Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11		 Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11
Cypripedium reginae (showy lady's-slipper) Lady slipper Scenic Byway, Minnesota 7/4/11		 Daughters Johanna & Christina with Babe the Blue Ox. Bemidji, MN 7/5/11
Daughters Johanna & Christina with "Babe the Blue Ox". Bemidji, MN 7/5/11		 Headed west! The badlands at Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park, North Dakota. 7/6/11
Headed west! The badlands at Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park, North Dakota. 7/6/11

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joseantonio20-Sep-2011 13:23
Very nice report
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