While hiking Ken and Dawn Mettlers' property (Hocking Hills area, Ohio) in early May, we were in time to find Galearis spectabilis and Cyp. acaule in bloom. A week too early for the Isotria verticillata and still earlier for the other five or six species found on their land (cf., http://www.iosoc.com/Natives/altnatives.shtml).
In one particular patch of hundreds of acaules, fully forty percent (by my quick estimate) of the plants had been heavily browsed by overpopulated, four-legged eating machines and would not be blooming this year. Leo urges a modification of people's behavior to remedy the problem of soil compactification that threatens native orchids. I'll urge something similar. Next time you're offered a Bambi-burger at a picnic ... ask for seconds. Tom F. _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
