It is always a treat to stumble across a native orchid, like this Pink Lady’s Slipper. The Pink Lady’s Slipper can take five years to bloom, but they can live to be twenty years old or more.

Pink Lady’s Slipper

Many of these lady’s slipper blossoms will not get pollinated as bumblebees have learned there is no nectar so not worth the effort to navigate the small opening and approximately only 10% will produce fruit containing thousands of tiny seeds. The plant can live up to 100 years but it takes a long time to bloom the first time and will not bloom every year if conditions are poor, so seeds may only be produced a few times during its life.

Pink Lady’s Slipper

The pink lady slipper flower, also known as the moccasin flower, is a wild native orchid. Pink lady’s slipper takes many years to go from seed to mature plants and can live to be twenty years old or more.

Among several Native American tribes, there are tales revolving around the pink lady slipper.  One story is of a young Indian girl who embarks on a snow winter journey for desperately needed medicine for her family and tribe. On the journey she loses her moccasins, but continues on bloodying her feet, leaving a trail behind her. In the spring the bloody footprints are replaced by bright pink lady slipper orchid and all return to health. In other tales, the maiden does not survive after getting the medicine to her tribe and the beautiful flowers grow as a reminder of her bravery.

Pink Lady’s Slipper