What’s up — calypso orchid

Calypso orchid is one of the first orchids to bloom. (Photo by Larry Halverson)

Orchids are big, spectacular, delicate flowers that grow in steaming jungles. Well, not quite…

Orchids are tough, exceedingly common flowers that will grow almost anywhere. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants with perhaps 15,000 or more species. Twenty of these are found in Kootenay National Park.

This year’s wet spring has made it a dandy for wildflowers. So the Friends of Kootenay blog will be highlighting more orchids over the next few weeks.