A closeup of the Pink Ladyslipper flower. We have more pictures from several previous years on our Photo Galleries which can be reached from www.cockatooweb.com .
Looking north and west from the White Rocks overlook of Sugarloaf Mtn park. It was a delightful clear day.
Amadeus the cockatoo was along to supervise the expedition.
The delicate flowers only grow in certain places. We have noted these in the past and return every year to see them grow and bloom. This trip takes us on the Blue Trail near the White Rocks overlook of Sugarloaf Mountain Park. Here is one spot where they grow and I have circled some to show how hidden yet out in plain sight they are!
Along the path small flowers are beginning to emerge. From above they don't look very impressive, just a sprinkling of blue flecks amongst the leaves.
But close up they are delightful. I get down on all fours to take this picture. If I rely on the autofocus I usually get the leaves in startling clarity and the flower as a blur!
The dappled sunlight casts a glow on these delicate whites.
I'm not going to write what they are until I look them up! Hmm, something about the number of petals.
Some of these are so tiny!
They are easy to miss and pass by.
Close up they have wonderful details.
But the real star of the spring show are the delicate ladyslippers. Here is one flower that has just emerged, but has not yet developed its color.
This one is still emerging.
My estimate is that next weekend, May 5th, these will be in full color.
I don't know how many years I walked by these flowers without noticing them. This is the blue trail just east of White Rocks on the first peak, the orchids grow on the left side of the trail as one heads east toward the stone cairn. I put my backpack down just across the trail from the flowers.
In previous years there were more orchids at this location. Unfortunately, the park has been harvesting the wind-downded lumber and the workers unknowingly piled this cuttings directly on top of the growing bed of orchids.
I love watching for their emergence. This year was different from previous years. They were quite invisible as they poked up from beneath the fallen leaves.
Up close you can see the fine hairs on the flower.
I love the positioning of this flower amongst the moss.
These plants seemed to be a bit more developed than those to the east of White Rocks.
I took this picture to show that they are hard to find unless you know where to look.
But what a reward for the search! These were the only flowers in full color. There are two right up against one another.
This group of flowers grows amongst the rock and mosses.
This is the trail location to the west and south of White Rocks looking toward Mt. Ephraim Road.
This is the trail location to the west and south of White Rocks looking toward White Rocks. I circled some of the flower locations to show how difficult they are to see casually.
Supervising the expedition was Amadeus. We have more pictures of this handsome fellow at www.cockatooweb.com with his step brother Kaipo.
