Becky is asking for odd squares throughout February and I believe that these lady slipper orchids qualify.
‘Lady slipper’ is the name familiarly used for orchids in the Cypripedioideae family. Popular plants, they appeal to gardeners and photographers because they play infinite variations on a well-known tune. As part of their quirky appeal, slipper orchids have different expressions if you look at them the right way*. For example, gurning like the ones above…
timid like this one with a veined pouch…
or lofty and self-satisfied like this. Mind you, it is rather fine with a green and purple nose, a blotchy eye mask, a pink spotted pouch and a halo above the whole. Could we be modest if we sported such glories?
(*The right way being with one eyebrow down and one eyebrow up, if you can manage it.)
I’ve often wondered about the slipper name, not having had any slippers remotely like these, but finally I see it. You have to ignore the upper and side bits and imagine you are slipping your toes downwards into the insect pouch. Everyone but me knew that, I dare say.
These dejected green orchids illustrate the slipperness about the best amongst the pictures I have.
The last is one of my favourites, because it makes me smile. I shared it several years ago using a different crop. What’s their expression? I think they’re defending their territory, so trying to look fearsome, united and impressive. Or backing away in horror. Or alien invaders, unsure of their welcome. Something along those lines.
Shared for Becky’s SquareOdds and Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Susan Rushton 
Odd maybe. But lovely with it.
Aren’t we all?
😉
No doubt about it, they’re strange creatures! And no, I don’t have any slippers quite like that either.
There is a company – Sew Heart Felt – who I imagine could make a version of these, complete with trailing bits. I’ve marvelled at their slipper designs but wasn’t sure how comfortable they’d be (and they are not cheap).
🙄💟
The green ‘slippers’ are sweet. More like baby slippers than lady’s slippers though. I do like your descriptive observations. Personally I always thought they looked rather rude.
there was me happily seeing slippers and think what elegant footwear I could have, and then I read your comment and now can’t see anything but rude!!!!
I have an old copy of Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy which suggests you are in good company.
I love the last ones too 🙂
It’s funny what we collectively like in plants – difficulty and diversity come into it – and that we collectively do not seek out the same in humans.
that is so true – us humans are very strange
Stunning flowers
I’m glad you liked them.
The name well captured in the photos. Beautiful images.
Thank you!
Love this! Maybe a lady’s slippers looked different in the old days. Like space invaders.
Maybe they did not walk very far on them but just lounged around elegantly. Otherwise the trailing bits would not last long, if my slippers are anything to go by.
The ones in the last picture look like they’re doing synchronised dancing.
Well observed.
Certainly, they are one of the beautiful oddities of the flower kingdom. Nice variety of photos you’ve collected, Susan!
Another of my virtual collections.
Love these. I found some in the woods last summer while I was camping in the Upper Peninsulia of Michigan.
That would be so exciting. We have common orchids here but I’ve never seen a wild slipper orchid.
How very well seen and framed
Thanks, Derrick.
I really like the last ones, they look so pretty and remind me of soft ballet shoes 🙂
I suppose we could imagine the backs as very ornate shoe horns.