More flowers in the garden.
A relative of the larger North American Pogonia ophioglossioides is P. japonica. This one is a "semi-alba" form which normally has much paler flowers. I think they may be darker this year due to cooler than normal temperatures.
And the Bletilla are flowering now too. This is a pale flowered form of B. striata, perhaps the same as what you call in the west, f. rosea. I can't read the Japanese name and haven't had my girlfriend translate it for me - probably something silly and whimsical like "soft rain heaven princess" or some such thing. Japanese names can be really over the top and obscure.
On the right is B. ochracea from Yunnan and his buddy is B. Brigantes (B. ochracea x B. striata). Pretty easy to grow and flower these, just like B. striata, but B. ochracea is perhaps a bit more sensitive to winter rains.
Another native in flower now is the tiny Amitostigma keiski This is a typical flower, but many forms exist with more purple spotting, pure white ones, etc. Not a difficult plant, but not easy either.
Finally, a lovely new hybrid Calanthe I couldn't help but buy this spring. It is a complex hybrid using the native species, and like complex Paph hybrids, it gets difficult to tell the parentage unless you have a record. Regardless, I love it!
