The Showy Lady’s-Slipper became the state flower of Minnesota in 1902. It was first protected by state law in 1925 so it is illegal to pick them or dig them up. They bloom in our part of northern Minnesota from late June to early July.
I know of a location near our home where these beautiful flowers bloom each year. This photo, taken with my phone, shows how many blossoms can be seen in just one short stretch of the road.
Showy Lady’s-Slipper plants grow up to three feet tall. Each stalk can have two or three flowers on it. An individual stalk can take up to seven years before it produces flowers.
Here is a closer look at a small group of Lady’s-Slippers. Most photos of these blossoms show a front view; here you can also see a side view of several blossoms.
In our yard, we have a patch of Large Yellow Lady’s-Slippers. I built a wire fence around them to protect them from being browsed. They bloom earlier than the Showy Lady’s-Slipper; this photo was taken on June 9.
Add a comment in the space below.