Tag Archives: Calypso bulbosa

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Nancy Feehan was the first to spot a very early Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, in late January. It was close to Fort Ross School. Recently Julia Larke found her first one in bloom. You can see the single leaf on the forest duff.

Then Peter Baye found a group in the Annapolis area.

These orchids are quite tiny so don't let these photos fool you! Theses flowers are also called Fairy Slippers.

Thanks to Peter and Julia for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today, Saturday, was magnificent on the coast. No wind so the ocean was calm, and Gray Whale spouts were seen. Temps in the low 70's - we know it won't last but for now, we are enjoying the sun and the warmth.

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Calypso Orchids, Calypso bulbosa, are blooming in undisturbed forests now. Craig Tooley recently photographed one.

Don't be fooled by Craig's extreme close-up - these native wildflowers are very tiny, only about three inches high. Notice the leaf on the left of the flower. It is easier to spot as it lays nearly flat on the forest floor. These wildflowers need a fungus in the soil to thrive so they can not be transplanted. They are also called Fairy Slippers or Venus's Slippers.

This morning Rick and I walked our neighbor's property where a handful grow. Yes, Lonnie and Bob, they are blooming now!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

Absolutely lovely day with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Gray Whale spouts can be seen over the serene Pacific Ocean. Things are to change tomorrow with the promise of rain.

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On Tuesday, Craig Tooley and Shirley Mitchell, each took walks before more rain arrived. They each found Calypso Orchids, Calypso bulbosa, up. They are quite small, so it feels like you've found treasure if you spot them. Craig found a particularly large group of these orchids.

Each Calypso Orchid has one leaf which lays flat on the forest floor. Shirley managed to get a nice closeup of one. Since they are so tiny, they are hard to photograph, but Shirley manged it!

These native wildflowers grow in undisturbed forests. They are also called Fairy Slippers or Venus's slipper. Consider yourself lucky if you come across one or more of these beauties while on a forest walk.

Thanks to Shirley and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you  here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

We had a lot of rain overnight and it's showering today. We went over 50 inches season to date at our place in Anchor Bay, for which we are thankful!

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John Sperry recently photographed a field of Zigadenes, Zigadenus fremontii.

Cece Case captured a Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa.

And on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands Rozann Grunig found this lovely wildflower with the unlovely name of Western Skunk Cabbage, Lysichiton americanus.

This plant loves water and is one of the few native species in the arum family. The plant is called skunk cabbage because of the distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits when it blooms. The odor of the blooms attracts its pollinators, scavenging flies and beetles.

Many more wildflowers will be blooming in the days to come as we have had the perfect equation for them to bloom.

Thanks to John, Cece and Rozann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.