The pouch-like flower of pink lady’s slipper is strongly veined with a deep furrow.
Rare woodland beauties
Two of the Upper Delaware River region’s most unique woodland inhabitants are growing increasingly rare, due to loss of habitat, animal browse and the occasional heedless human harvester.
Pink lady’s slipper, also called moccasin flower, is most often found in wooded areas, typically in humus mats covering rocky outcrops. It is a delicate orchid that propagates poorly and does not transition well to domestic gardens.
On Sunday, May 25th, the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited was exhibiting at the Callicoon Farmers’ Market. A wee lassie about eight years old, named Pia Roels, approached our table. She carefully examined the pretty, small wooden trout carved by artist Lou Trowbridge. After examining them, she proudly announced to all of us, “At our school we raised trout.”
