Native Orchids Growing in Tennessee?

by Carolyn Kirchner
(Franklin, TN, USA)

This past fall I attended Conservation Camp sponsored by the Federation of Tennessee Garden Clubs and heard a speaker talk of native orchids. I was certainly under the impression that orchids grew naturally in the orient or jungle or some other exotic places, not right here in Tennessee. He piqued my interest and I used one of his resources to buy a Grass Pink Native Orchid and two Fragrant Nodding Ladies' Tresses Orchids. I planted the tiny bulb-like plants (showing only a bit of green sprouting) and was rewarded with a beautiful Grass Pink orchid in spring (see attached picture). This miniature bloom is only about 1 1/2" tall. I will be waiting patiently for fall to arrive which is when the Ladies' Tresses will hopefully bloom for me.