One sunny afternoon last week, I walked through our woods to check on the mature thicket of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) with dainty pink and white blossoms that remind me of calico fabric. The trees were showing buds, but none had opened, so I decided to make my annual spring search for pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule). I have never found one, and I suspect it is because lady’s slipper prefers pine or mixed hardwood-pine forest, and our woods are mostly hardwood with a few pines near the creek’s edge.
Not finding a lady’s slipper, I decided to look for other new or interesting plants. I carry my cell phone most of the time, because you never know what treasure you might discover. I use an app that lets me take a picture of a plant, animal, or insect in order to identify it. Several of these apps are available; some are free, and some charge a small fee to use. They aren’t 100% accurate, but a good way to begin the identification process.
I have often mentioned our invasi...