The scandinavian wild orchids have just started to blossom. At least some of them, like the magnificent The Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus). In Norway it is given the name Marisko and it is among the 11 wild orchid species that are protected. And it needs this protection, because of it’s beauty people have sampled them to make a nice bouquet, or to plant them in their garden. Forestry and urbanization are other threats. In Britain this plant is so rare that the police is protecting the few remaining plants.
The Lady’s slipper is rare even in Norway, but not that rare. They are still to be found some places, and I went 200 km to find these ones, in the county of Nord-Trøndelag. I have visited them many times before, but it was well worth the trip to go again. There are many more photos of The Lady’s Slipper Orchid in my photo gallery.
We have them hear too. Haven’t spotted any yet, but haven’t hit my favourite mountain spots either. I love the burgundy petals on yours. Our most common ones are yellow through and through. e.g. http://photoswithfinesse.com/Images/Flamboyant%20Flora/wildflowers%20-%20yellow%20ladys%20slipper.htm
What beautiful flowers and images, I have never seen these in the wild and am very envious! I appreciate your efforts to bring them to me,
best wishes,
Theresa
Stunning images
Beautiful. I couldn’t believe this kind of Orchid still making carpet of flowers !
)
To the third photo, did you used flash or reflector ?
—– pretty good effect (a bit over in my taste though
Very lovely indeed!
Really lovely, I hope I will have the chance to see them in the nature.
Like a glass slipper fit for a princess. Beautiful.
I love orchids. There are so many varieties. Beautiful flower.
så vakre bilder av vakre blomster. Vel verdt en ekstra tur, vil jeg tro.
Very much a beauty!
BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous flowers and so are the photos.
So delicate. Beautiful light!
Love the first 2 shots
Wonderful photos Bente. I love the light shining through the blooms.
Gorgeous!
Beautiful photos! We have Lady Slippers here in Montana too!
oh what lovely flowers..i love orchids..and thank you for taking that 200km drive to get us these beauties…
Oh they’re beautiful!
The yellow Lady Slipper is very rare here in Maine also, Bente, but we often found them growing near our home when we lived in Sweden, Maine, which ironically, is but a few miles from Norway, Maine.
These are real beauties! We don’t have the yellow ones here, but our white ones are very similar.
Striking images and orchids. They look like inter-planetary flowers like you’d find in a field on Mars!
¡Que preciosidad! nunca había visto estas flores, tienes mucha suerte de tenerlas cerca, besos
WOW…..I suppose here in the U.K. the nearest in appearance is the Bee Orchid but that is so rare it doesn’t appear in such hugh clumps nor as bright.
Beautifull plants I will thank you for visiting my blog and whis you a very nice week. Greetings Ineke
All orchids are beautiful especially the wild ones… and these shots are really stunning… Love the entry!
These are my favorite orchids, wild and rare, in the woods. It’s great to see how they’re thriving near you. Thank you for making my day!
These are absolutely beautiful blossoms and I’m amazed how you had to travel so far to find them.
What a unique and lovely shots.
Bente, these are beautiful! I especially love the last shot with its color and contrast.
Beautiful photos and flowers. Well worth the trip!
They are lovely! Maine has yellow ones somewhere. I have never seen one. But we have lots of pinks ones in the woods behind the house. I have always thought ours were protected, but just found out they are not that rare, here.
beautiful photographs, and wonderful flowers. a pleasure to see your work.
Wow, they are beautiful! I still remember when you wrote about how long it takes for nature to come back to live after winter and now this
Only a few days ago, my mom told me on the phone that there seems to be some wild orchids growing in a tree not far away from their house. I’ll be visiting my parents in about two weeks and now even more curious to see if it’s true and I can find them.
Have never seen so many together and that too in the wild! Great shots
They are truly beautiful. I have seen them in documentaries, but alas, never in the wild. In Belgium and The Netherlands is does not grow in the wild.
Unique, delicate and resilient. Beautiful shots.
I’ve never seen a lady slipper that wasn’t in a pot. So wonderful to see them in natural habitat.
hmm and we thought we had a market on wild orchids. I’ve not seen those growing in the mountains. Beautiful
Thank you so much for these beautiful photos. It is wonderful news that Lady Slipper still thrives, somewhere in the world! Before the Pilgrims, Lady Slipper did thrive in New England. Due to it’s medicinal properties and the Pilgrims lack of foresight, they are now extremely rare, and protected. I’ve seen 2, in the wild, in my lifetime, and I’m nearly 60.
Would you believe we have some areas here in Michigan where you can find clusters of 20-30 of these in a group? They aren’t all that common here either, but in areas where they do appear, they can really thrive.
so beautiful and so artistic photographs you captured, dear Bente, Thanks and Love, nia
Very beautiful images – especially the last one.
Orchids are just so beguiling!
Beautiful