Gymnadeniopsis (Platanthera) clavellata (Little Green Woodland orchid; Club-spur orchid)

Thanks to a heads-up from a friend (Frank H.), I visited a wonderful, swampy site about 15 minutes from home. This site was, thanks to the hard work of Frank and some others, recently put into protected status to protect the small population of federally endangered Bunched Arrowhead plants.

It just so happens that this site also contains hundreds and hundreds of a fairly common but none-the-less beautiful Little Green Woodland orchid.

It was 96 degrees when I went out to photograph these beauties. In addition, it was about 86 percent humidity. I was sweating so much that when I would lean over to check the focus on my camera, sweat was just pouring off of me as if it were raining! But it was worth it. Thanks to Frank's email, I didn't miss these pretty little orchids...