Lots of Lady’s Slippers!

Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) are one of my favorite spring wildflowers. For the longest time, I’d only see them one or two at a time, often not in great shape. And then one year while I was photographing in the Smokies, I found a spot that at the time had maybe 15 lady’s slippers. I’ve gone back to that same spot several times now over the years – and am always thrilled to find the patch of lady’s slippers is thriving. This year I counted at least 30 pink lady’s slippers in the area – which meant I had a great time photographing them.

Here are a few of my favorite photos of the pink lady’s slippers from this spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There used to be a few yellow lady’s slippers nearby – but this year there was only one. Based on the damage in the area – I suspect there had been more yellow lady’s slippers earlier this year but that someone had dug one or more of them up and removed them from the park.

The lady’s slippers generally bloom in mid-late April – so hopefully they will be in bloom for my Spring in the Smokies workshop next year. If they are in bloom, this is one of the spots I’m planning on taking people during the workshop.