Jim Fowler's photos with the keyword: rare plants

A group of seven of us: Neil, Jen, Alan, Steve, Max, Walter, and I were very fortunate to be able to get into a Nature Conservancy property called Broxton Rocks. This protected area consists of a large exposure of consolidated sandstone called Altamaha grit. It's fifty or sixty or more feet deep, and is fractured into large fissures and canyons. This environment hosts many rare plants as well as one particular orchid that is not considered rare, but the fact that it grows on the canyon walls of Altamaha grit is very unusual -- bordering on unique. It usually grows on the limbs and trunks of trees... high up on the trees. Which makes them difficult to photograph. This type of plant is called an epiphyte. When it's found growing on rocks, it's call a lithophyte. The ones we photographed today were growing at eye level or lower... on the rocks. How cool is that!

A group of seven of us: Neil, Jen, Alan, Steve, Max, Walter, and I were very fortunate to be able to get into a Nature Conservancy property called Broxton Rocks. This protected area consists of a large exposure of consolidated sandstone called Altamaha grit. It's fifty or sixty or more feet deep, and is fractured into large fissures and canyons. This environment hosts many rare plants as well as one particular orchid that is not considered rare, but the fact that it grows on the canyon walls of Altamaha grit is very unusual -- bordering on unique. It usually grows on the limbs and trunks of trees... high up on the trees. Which makes them difficult to photograph. This type of plant is called an epiphyte. When it's found growing on rocks, it's call a lithophyte. The ones we photographed today were growing at eye level or lower... on the rocks. How cool is that!

A group of seven of us: Neil, Jen, Alan, Steve, Max, Walter, and I were very fortunate to be able to get into a Nature Conservancy property called Broxton Rocks. This protected area consists of a large exposure of consolidated sandstone called Altamaha grit. It's fifty or sixty or more feet deep, and is fractured into large fissures and canyons. This environment hosts many rare plants as well as one particular orchid that is not considered rare, but the fact that it grows on the canyon walls of Altamaha grit is very unusual -- bordering on unique. It usually grows on the limbs and trunks of trees... high up on the trees. Which makes them difficult to photograph. This type of plant is called an epiphyte. When it's found growing on rocks, it's call a lithophyte. The ones we photographed today were growing at eye level or lower... on the rocks. How cool is that!

These are a few more shots from my trip to the upper part of the county a few days ago. In another Heritage Preserve in the upper part of the county, there are several populations of Cypripedium acaule or Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid. They will be in full bloom in about ten days. I would not have photographed these buds except that I thought they were stylish... Note that all parts of the plant (including the flower) are covered with tiny hairs...

These are a few more shots from my trip to the upper part of the county a few days ago. This particular plant is Aplectrum hyemale or Putty Root Orchid. The leaves appear in the fall, stay on all winter, and disappear in late spring when it blooms. I have outlined the newly formed bloom spike in the above photo. By the middle of May, this budding spike will be about eighteen inches tall and will have more than a dozen flowers. I hope I have the chance to come back and photograph this one in bloom.

These are a few more shots from my trip to the upper part of the county a few days ago. In another Heritage Preserve in the upper part of the county, there are several populations of Cypripedium acaule or Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid. They will be in full bloom in about ten days. I would not have photographed these buds except that I thought they were stylish... Note that all parts of the plant (including the flower) are covered with tiny hairs...

This is a fragrant orchid that is found along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It is commonly known as Fragrant Ladies'-tresses. We got to the location in late afternoon when the sunlight was shining on the plant from almost a horizontal direction. In addition, the light was soft and warm, unlike the harsh mid-day light.

This is a fragrant orchid that is found along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It is commonly known as Fragrant Ladies'-tresses. We got to the location in late afternoon when the sunlight was shining on the plant from almost a horizontal direction. In addition, the light was soft and warm, unlike the harsh mid-day light.

This is a fragrant orchid that is found along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It is commonly known as Fragrant Ladies'-tresses. We got to the location in late afternoon when the sunlight was shining on the plant from almost a horizontal direction. In addition, the light was soft and warm, unlike the harsh mid-day light.