Little Things in the Rockies - Kootenay, BC June 7-8

Kootenay National Park, BC was the first Park we would visit in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. There we were surrounded by awe inspiring mountains and a river rushing past our tent door, but the overcast light wasn't suitable for photographing landscapes. So we spent a little time looking along the riverbank and discovered these beautiful orchids. The Sparrow's-Egg Lady's-Slipper or Franklin's Lady's-Slipper (above) is a rare subarctic species found only in the Canadian provinces and Alaska. The more common Small Round-leaved Orchis (below) has delicate blooms that looks to me like tiny dolls wearing polkadot dresses and pink bonnets.