2008-03-09 Day trip to the Francis Marion National Forest (Berkeley County, South Carolina) to photograph Listera australis (Southern twayblade orchid). I have visited this same spot for several years, and I am never disappointed. Listera australis is always in bloom there during the first week of March -- it is South Carolina's earliest blooming orchid. The color range of the flowers at this site is quite interesting, varying from deep brownish red to creamy yellow. The blooming plants range from two inches tall to slightly over seven inches tall. The area has had an abundance of rain so far this year, and I hope it bodes well for the orchids that bloom in the spring and summer.

Note: Please excuse sub-standard nature of images due to the fact that I had left my sunlight diffuser screen at home and was using a new camera.

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