The Slower You Go

I think I say it a couple of times in the books–the slower you go, the more you see. The more you see the more you know and come to care about in the particular.

I don’t know how many times we must have driven past this cluster of Showy Orchis and the other several striking bunches of that not-common species in our travels.

It took me walking down (running, actually) to fetch the wandering dog home from one of his nasally-induced rambles to see the most perfect specimen of this prized plant on the bank–at eye level even so the photographer could avoid wallowing on his belly for the shot.

I don’t seem to be able to find the “studio lighting” for this plant that would make it a great shot. It’s a “deep” plant in that the blooms arise from all sides of the stem. It grows typically in deeper woods–even piney woods–where the lighting and background clutter are rarely ideal.

But I love the way each is a prim old-fashioned lady in her lavender bonnet and ruffled white bodice.