June is the best month to see most native orchids in bloom but our commonest kind, Ladies' Tresses, blooms in autumn. All orchids have leaves with parallel veins like those of lilies and irises. This is the most obvious of all orchid peculiarities. It serves as a landing strip, restaurant and signboard for bees. The orchid possesses an elaborate and foolproof system which insures that its sticky pollen is carried from one flower to another by insects.
Orchids are quite frequent in the bogs of the north woods of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The lady's slipper is protected by Illinois state law. Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.