My first memory of this pretty little orchid was from 1962, I was 12 years old and at Girl Scout Camp in Deep Creek, Maryland. We had a cool counselor who told us about the things (plants and animals) that surrounded us! I had earned the two weeks at camp by selling Girl Scout Cookies; actually my Dad sold most of them (smile).
Also known as Mocassin Flower
When we found this pink early spring ephemeral, we were told about how rare it was. We were told to look and not touch. She brought the flower to life by retelling an old Ojibwa tale of a young girl who was brave and fearless.
Pink Lady's Slipper
Her family and village were all sick; so she walked through snow to
retrieve the healing herbs from the one who had them. Walking home
she lost her moccasins and left bloody footprints in the snow. After
her people were healed she and her brother found the Lady’s Slipper
blooming in her footprints as the snow melted!
This past spring, on the road behind ours we found in the woods the wonderful pink Lady’ Slipper. It is still relatively rare, but here in Delaware they are not listed as Endangered. I would love to have this flower in the garden, but they hate their roots to be disturbed, and they need a special microbe in the soil to flourish. So I will leave this medicinal plant where I find it, and go revisit it next year.
