This year's challenge

[Wicked Dark]

to myself is to finally take a decent photo of indian pipes while they're blooming. I've gotten a couple good ones (well, one anyway) of them when they're dried and brown, but not when they're at their ghostly best. So when I went to shoot the giant laurel the other day, I noticed that the indian pipes are blooming so began my quest. I have a couple other notions in mind and if it ever stops being 90 degrees, I'll get to it.

When they first come up, the flowers are bent in the pipe shape they're named for -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Nature/Macro-and-Close-up/i-R6w68MH/0/XL/Brain-Salad-XL.jpg

When they mature, they straighten out and so I shot this lovely pink specimen looking straight down. Yeah, I was in artsy-fartsy mode.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Art/Interpretations-and-Abstracts/i-tzWbpcV/0/L/Transactional-L.jpg

They are white because they don't contain chlorophyl used in photosynthesis. Instead they retrieve nutrients through the roots. These types are plants are called saprophytic. There is a sister species that blooms twice a year, most colorfully in autumn so I'm going to keep a lookout for those, too. They fascinate me.

[Iguanasan]

Really cool. I've never seen anything like them before. I really like that first one.

[asnow]

Agree really cool shots. Love the first one, it's sharpness and nice bokeh. Lets hope the temp cools a bit so you can get out and capture a few more pictures.

[Mad Aussie]

What a cool plant! I like your artzy fartzy shot very much. Does it open up more than that?

[Hillbillygirl]

Lovely shots WD, you presented these rarities so well. Can't wait to see more.
The sister plant would be the Pinesap, should be coming up about one month later than the Indian Pipes. Hoping you get to shoot/post some of these also.

[JAS_Photo]

Cool shots! I like the brown and green background with the white flowers popping in contrast. They are a little bit creepy looking, though. I can imagine Morticia Adams nurturing something like that.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks guys. They are kind of an odd duck, aren't they? I think that's why I like them so much, they seem to lurk on the forest floor and relish foggy weather.
I don't think they open any more than that, although I haven't really studied them. Maybe today since it's a wonderful 60 degrees out and shouldn't get too much above 80. Oh and yeah, it is pinesap that I meant. Hopefully I can find those too and they don't pull a bloodroot on me. (pulling a bloodroot = to remain completely hidden and unphotographed by me with my friends getting terrific shots)

[kat]

Nice shots!

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks Kat. I went looking in a different nature preserve and found that the indian pipes there are a bit behind in development. I didn't get what I was after exactly, but I did get this -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Nature/Macro-and-Close-up/i-9CHxMVN/0/XL/FraternalKristenSmithJuly-14-XL.jpg

They've just emerged from the leaf litter and I just couldn't resist them all tangled in the partridge berry.

[Bambi]

great shots of a really cool plant. I wonder if they are up here??

[Wicked Dark]

They might be. I find most species that survive down here, are ok up there...it's not that far temperature and weather-wise. Once you see them and get your eyes used to looking for them, they seem to pop out all over. I'm going to try a third preserve tomorrow...weather permitting.

[Lizardqing]

Cool shots. Never seen those before and have to say they look real interesting.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks so much. They're very stealthy and a lot of people never see them, but I remain fascinated by them and shot some today. I'm still processing, but I got one step closer to putting this mini-project together. I have a couple more shots in my head, but so far, so good.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Nature/Macro-and-Close-up/i-v3Cm7PZ/0/L/Past-the-Sound-of-L.jpg

[Hillbillygirl]

Awesome series WD. We have these everywhere around here. Haven't actually been looking for them, but seemed everywhere we stopped while on our bush ride the other day, there they were. They sure love the acidic soil in the ehade of thick pines around these parts.
As for Bloodroot, I feel for ya', but our last bush, you could not walk, literally 30 ft., without crushing mats of them underfoot.

[Bambi]

I was beyond excited to find these in the woods behind my house:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6003882016_505be29988_z.jpg

I need to go back and get better shots but wanted to share anyway :)

[Wicked Dark]

oh I love the moss in yours. good job. aren't they wonderful? did you touch one? they feel surprisingly nice.

[Wicked Dark]

here's a couple more. I was going a bit crazy.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/6005389179_d0b859b68e_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/6005259142_692f38f5f2_b.jpg

[Wicked Dark]

Awesome series WD. We have these everywhere around here. Haven't actually been looking for them, but seemed everywhere we stopped while on our bush ride the other day, there they were. They sure love the acidic soil in the ehade of thick pines around these parts.
As for Bloodroot, I feel for ya', but our last bush, you could not walk, literally 30 ft., without crushing mats of them underfoot.

reason #19 to hate HBG. ; )
if I get this job I'm interviewing for tomorrow, I'm crashing your pad next summer!

[Marko]

really digging this series WD - I really like the one in post 13.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks M. I'm actually going to use a couple to illustrate an article I'm doing for the blog. I know I owe you a new one. ; )