Philip E. Keenan. Wild Orchids Across North America: A Botanical Travelogue. Timber Press. 1998.

Keenan wrote this book with two purposes in mind: 1) to get beginners interested in our native orchids, and 2) let those who have already studied orchids in the wild recall those memories. I can testify that he accomplished his first purpose with me. The only orchid I've ever seen in the wild was a Lady's slipper. The photographs accompanying the text in this book make me want to put on wading boots or whatever clothing is necessary, and start wading into swamps or visiting mountain ranges in search of these wonderful plants.

Philip Keenan spends several chapters discussing orchids of various geographical regions. Chapters 1 through 4 talk about orchids in Alaska. This information was revealing to me since I always picture Alaska as a snow covered, frozen land. Apparently parts of Alaska are warm enough to grow Lady's slippers and several other types of orchids. Each species encountered is described in detail and accompanied by outstanding photographs.

Other geographic regions included in this book include Canada (chapters 5-10), New England (chapters 11-22, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Western States (chapters 23-26), Southeastern States (chapters 27-28), and the Western States (chapters 29-34). He concludes with a Botanist's notebook (chapters 35-38) where he talks about green orchids, Spiranthes, the length Goodyeras stay evergreen, and a short discussion of hybrids between species.

Keenan writes in a way that allows you to "see" the scene he is describing. It's an excellent writer who can make the reader feel like he or she is walking right with the author as he describes his orchid hunting trips. Here is just a sample:

Everything on the floor of the bog was covered with green mosses, interrupted only by trailing vines of the twin-flower (Linnaea borealis) and creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula, along with the tiny heart-leaved twayblade (Listera cordata) and a few early coralroots (Corallorhiza trifida). Two favorite mosses, the feathery mountain fern moss (Hylocomium splendens) and the ostrich plume moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis), provided a most glorious spread for this orchid. Little wonder that the calypso is associated with the idea of pristine wilderness more than any other North American wild orchid. [pages 102-1-3]

Are you tired of being homebound this winter? Pick up this book and take tour of North American orchids while sipping hot tea and curled up with a warm blanket. You'll be transported to various wilderness scenes as I was. This book will cause you to start looking for orchids wherever your path may take you.