The yellow ladyslipper is endangered in that part of the county, and I decided that I wanted to do something to help them, said Steele.
...
Steele developed a gel food for the seeds, which consists of sugar, nitrogen, potassium and other... ingredients.... he used a careful sterilization process before planting the seeds in the gel...
in about December of each year, Steele plants the seeds in the gel and incubates them until the next December. When a full year has passed, he pulls the seedlings out of glass containers... and refrigerates them. This step not only mimics the winter season, but ensures theyll be ready for planting in mid April.
This year, we sold about 10,000 seedlings to customers and nurseries around the country, said [his wife] Carol. Our plants normally include white, yellow, showy and southern ladyslippers.
...
The couple began looking for a home and found one east of Grand Rapids in 1997...
the Steeles sell their ladyslippers on the Web site www.ladyslipperfarm.com...
Around the country, a total of 47 ladyslipper species exist. Six of these are native to Minnesota, and some, including the yellow and ramshead ladyslippers, are endangered in some parts of the country.
...
Some ladyslipper species are fairly easy to grow... but the yellow ones are generally the most adaptable. Thats normally what we recommend to people who are planting a ladyslipper for the first time. "
article URL: http://www.grandrapids-mn.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=222713
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regards,
VB
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