Deciduous tree leaves have filled much of the canopy of our spruce-fir-hardwood forests, making the woods darker in many areas. Two of our more bashful plants that love shadows are emerging there: Star Flowers and Lady’s Slippers.
Multitudes of tiny Star Flowers are sprinkling the dappled and dark mossy areas of our woods and many of them are “Lucky Stars”: plants that have seven leaves and seven-petalled flowers.
The less common Lady’s Slippers need things darker and danker for their delicate foot-ware. These wild orchids grow only in moist soil that contains the mycorrhizae fungus, which provides the plants necessary energy and nutrients.
(Brooklin, Maine)