Rare and beautiful White Ladies Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium candidum), a beguiling and shy native not suited to most of our landscapes

And best left in the wild!, as seen here, and in nice numbers at this rather secluded and secret site near West Chicago, Winfield areas. A super rare native orchid-  mostly due to illegal,(and  bone-headed) harvesting from the wild. When dug in bloom, mortality rate is off the charts.  Endangered in most northern states, l,isted as threatened in Il.,

Best admired, and photographed, but leave alone and enjoy this cool plant structure!

White ladies slipper mid may 17, and native species of prairies, Midwest landscapes

A denizen of wet prairies and fen habitats, with few remaining, so habitat is critical.