Northern Green Orchid (aka Leafy Green Orchid, Northern Bog Orchid) Platanthera hyperborea.  • Family: Orchidaceae / Orichid • Habitat: bog • Height: 1-3 feet • Flower size: 1/4 inch • Flower color: pale green • Origin:  Native

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 - Report by

We first stopped at a friends home to help identify a plant but so far we were not any help. We did enjoy looking around her trial gardens. After that we went on a road near Solbakken Resort where we had seen Purple Fringed orchids before. There were 21 of them by the road but the ones under the power line had been sprayed and were suffering.

Next we went up the Caribou Trail to the Jonvik Estates second addition. We had not been on that road before – several nice new houses. We had been told of some Scarlet Lychnis – they were so bright and beautiful – probably a garden escape.

Many different flowers are blooming at this time of year: Canada & Bull Thistle, Scentless Chamomile, Mullein, Pearly Everlasting, Trailing False Buckwheat, Avens, Yarrow, Campion, Northern Bedstraw, Fireweed, all types of Clover and Tansy.

We then had lunch at White Pine Campground and went Barkers Lake Road where we saw: Fringed Loostrife, Marsh or Common Skullcap, Rough-fruited Cinquefoil, Virgin’s Bower, Agrimony, Spurred Gentian, Meadowsweet, Turtlehead, Northern Green Bog Orchid and Fireweed.

It was a wonderful day – bright sun and dark clouds taking turns but there was a nice breeze and nice temps.

I believe this will be my last report this year because of health issues – unless another one in our group takes over.