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In only one weekend, Morning Edition’s intrepid wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root found all six types of lady’s slipper orchids that naturally grow in Minnesota. With a great deal of effort and a sprinkle of luck, Povo and Root were able to find the flowers in a span of two days.

“After you’ve seen a few, suddenly the game is on,” Povo said. 

Their hunt came after a long month of heavy rainfall. The pair donned their mosquito shirts and boots, and trekked through forested swamp and across multiple state parks to log their discoveries. 

They ended their journey in Iron Springs Bog, just northwest of Lake Itasca. There, they found the stemless and showy lady’s slipper orchids.

“What a gift. I love this place,” Root said.

Povo and Root’s latest book, “Chasing Flowers: An Adventurous Guide to Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers and Their Unique Habitats,” will come out in early spring of 2025.

To listen to the audio postcard, click play on the player head above.

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Rain and terrain have never stopped wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root, who set out earlier this month to find all six variations of Minnesota’s lady’s slipper orchid.

Rain and terrain have never stopped wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root, who set out earlier this month to find all six variations of Minnesota’s lady's slipper orchid. 

Wildflower Chasers: Strolling through a bog for lady's slipper orchids

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