Adding another Orchids species to my seen list!
I got to witness the blooming Western Prairie Fringed Orchid out in Rock County. Derek Anderson with the MNDNR invited me to join him on his surveys to measure this species throughout the state. I drove out to the southwestern portion of the state. The wind was slowly blowing, making the full sun day a little less intense. After three years of regional drought, this species did not have many blooming flowers compared to previous years. This species relies on last year precipitation for flowering. It may take a few more years for the population to bounce back after that stressor.