Lady Slipper Orchids: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine, USA, May 2026 — I honestly did not expect the Lady Slipper Orchids to be in bloom yet, after our cold, wet spring, but I thought I should check. Good thing I did! And it looks like it might be a good year for them. I always feel obliged to remind folks that you should not try to dig up and transplant Lady Slippers to your yard (and of course, you should not pick them). They depend on a partnership with a specific family of fungi for both germination (their seeds lack any energy store of their own) and throughout their lives for their supply of minerals. This fungi is only found around the roots of certain trees in the forest and will not be in your yard. Interestingly, they also “cheat” the bees that pollinate them, providing no nectar. The big, bright, fleshy bulb is basically a bee trap, and the bees pollinate the flowers as they try to escape. Who knew? Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300mm contemporary at 99 and 48mm equivalents. Aperture program with macro modifications (f18 for depth of field. Tripod mandatory!) Processed in Photomator and bokeh adjusted in Laminar Neo.