Lady's slipper beauty

Northern Yellow Lady's-slipper. Photo David Liebl

The Northern Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin) is a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, according to the DNR. It blooms late in May into late June, and likes to grow in fens and swales and "rich springy forest edges". David Liebl, on his frequent strolls in the Preserve, found this beauty, soon ready to open and reveal its slipper, the inflated lower petal. The lateral petals will be narrow, up to 2 inches long, typically spirally twisted. We are fortunate to such a wide variety of flowering plants in the Preserve. David, thank you for sharing this photo.