The first orchid walk of 2026

Since we were in Cedarville, Michigan we were only eight miles from one of our favorite orchid sites in the state. In the afternoon, after visiting Narnai we treked out after Calypso Orchids.

We knew that we were in the correct spot when we saw the Lakeside daiseys.

Walking into the typically wet cedar woods, which are quite dry this year due to the current drought conditions in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we found the first of many Striped coralroot orchids.

Susan spotted this Gen moth landing on a log. It’s really quite cryptic.

I have never seen so many rattlesnake ferns as we found that afternoon. There were hundreds in the woods.

Then we started finding Calypso Orchids. These tiny orchids are between 2-3 inches tall. This are typical ones.

These are quite white.

Here’s Susan on the ground with two in front of her.

Next we were off to a nearby sight in search of Heart-leaf Twayblade, another orchid that’s in much wetter woods. But on the way we found yellow lady’s slippers that were almost open.

Here’s Susan photographing twayblades, which are as small as the Calypso orchids.

You cannot see the orchid in front of the camera, but trust me it’s there.

Here’s a photo that I took. The twayblade is the same size as the Calypso, but much more slight, and not nearly as bright. On the way out I managed to find another Calypso, which was our 16th of the afternoon. We also had eight twayblades.

While not orchids, trillium are at their peak bloom right now in the Upper Peninsula.

More later…