Longleaf pine savannah in the Apalachicola National Forest, Liberty County Florida

On May 31, 2016, I was privileged to visit the Apalachicola National Forest in Liberty County, Florida and see the rare, Manyflowered Grass-pink orchid in full bloom. Florida is the strong-hold for this orchid species, but it has been found in only a couple of counties in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Although it has been recorded in about 40% of Florida counties, it is rare because it only flowers after a spring prescribed burn of longleaf pine savannahs.

About ten days to two weeks after the burn, the orchid will be in full bloom and will last about a week.

For more information about this trip to the Florida panhandle, please go to Jim's Blog.