The Lewis and Clark expedition was the first to document mountain lady’s slipper in western North America.
On a hike into the Badger Creek Wilderness I finally spotted one of the rare plants.
What an interesting wild orchid it was. A large white flower pouch with inner purple veins and a spotted bract.
Two other species of wild orchids were seen on the 16-mile hike, as were many wonderfully colored butterflies.
What would the wilderness be without the delicate flowers of orchids and the dance-like movements of butterflies?
Mountain Lady’s Slipper
Western Sulphur Butterfly
Striped Coralroot Orchid
Brown Elfin Butterfly
Spotted Coralroot Orchid
Duskywing Butterfly
I LOVE these photos, John. Yet another trail that I haven’t hiked yet. What route did you take?
I did the entire length of the Little Badger Creek Trail from the bottom, ending where it runs into the Divide Trail. It passes the Kinzel mine shaft.