82 Bog-Trotting for OrcKids 



stubborn and difficult in cultivation. It may be potted 

 during the winter, but seldom, if ever, blooms more 

 than a single season. 



While many of our native orchids have a certain 

 amount of adaptiveness to environment, they never 

 will be found to choose absolutely dry soil, such as the 

 rocky sheep pastures in which the common pennyroyal 

 thrives. A sheltered, damp corner is safest for the 

 exiled plant, where the sunshine searches long to 

 brighten its petals. 



One cold day in early March, I secured a frozen sod 

 containing the roots of the Showy Lady's Slipper, and 

 made an artificial bog in the bay-window, where I 

 watched it thaw out. The flowers burst forth about a 

 month earlier than when in the swamps. But although 

 they were full 3^ in the warm rays of the May sun, the 

 blossoms w^ere pale and delicate. The same cluster of 

 plants sent forth deep rose-tinged blossoms the next 

 season, in the damp corner of my garden, where I 

 planted them. They became strong, healthy plants, 

 flowering several seasons on the regular date for Pow- 

 nal, June 20th. It is therefore evident that dates for 

 blossoming differ more according to the exposure of 

 the haunt than to the variations of seasons. But in 

 the Swamp of Oracles I know where I can find this 

 Showy Queen of the Indian Moccasins as early as 

 June 8th, and I know of other haunts where it is not 

 unfurled until the 15th and 20th of the month. 



