Earth Almanac: November/December 2007

As wildflower blossoms decline through spring, summer, and fall, our appreciation for them builds until the last petals have withered and died. Or so we supposed. But now—if you look hard in the eastern half of our nation except northern Maine and southern Florida—you’ll find nodding lady’s tresses. These never-common orchids bloom until the first hard frosts, infusing bleak, sometimes snow-covered meadows, pastures, fens, woodlots, and even lawns with the kind of beauty and fragrance we associate with temperate days long past. Spiranthes—the generic name is from the Greek speira, for “coil,” and anthos, for “flower,” while the specific name, cernua,means “nodding.” Its root systems must be associated with a specific fungus for normal growth to occur, so starting nodding ladies’ tresses from seeds is difficult. On the other hand they’re easier to transplant than most other wild orchids. Cultivars are widely available at nurseries.