Hunting for the Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

4/10/08 Grant Roden

Hunting for the Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

We patiently waited in our car for the Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus) to cross the drive way at the Elk Meadow Cabin Complex, in Redwood National Park, Orick, Ca. As we waited, we planned our route to find California’s native orchid, the Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa). According to the book “ Plants Of The Coast Redwood Region “ we purchased at the Elk Meadow Gift Shop, the Calypso Orchid blooms for a short period between March and April. The plant stands approximately 5-7 inches, the flower is the classic “lady slipper” style of orchid and is a beautiful purple color with white stripes and yellow dots. The flower lasts approximately one week after bloom. The Calypso Orchid is found in the Coastal Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchenis) forests and occasionally in the Old Growth Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Groves.

Being a sunny spring afternoon, we decided to head out to find the elusive Calypso Orchid. After the 25 or so Roosevelt Elk lazily moved out of our way, we headed south on HWY 101, the Redwood Coast Highway, to a stand of Sitka Spruce trees found at Big Lagoon County Park. As we drove through the majestic Old Growth Redwood Trees, past Redwood Creek and into the town of Orick, my wife reminded me that hunting Orchids on an empty stomach would be a mistake.

I smiled at her and admitted that while she was soaking in the hot tub at the Elk Meadow Cabin Complex, I had bought some local beef jerky, a jar of organic wild huckleberry jam, some organic trail mix and a few bottles of water.

“Let’s get some bread, and our picnic will be complete.” she said.

Before she could talk again, knowing what she would say,

I blurted out,”I got some chocolate at the Elk Meadow Gift Shop as well.”

“Enough for two?” she said.

“Enough for four” I replied.

After a quick stop for bread and gas at the local gas sstation we left the beautiful Orick Valley behind. No sooner than you can say “Where the Redwoods Meet the Sea”, we were driving next to the Pacific Ocean. The ocean looked calm and the only people I saw on the beach were a family carrying fishing poles and sand castle building supplies.

As we continued south, we passed two coastal lagoons, with several boats full of fisherman angling for the famous North Coast Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and ocean run Coastal Cuthroat Trout(Oncorhynchus clarki). My wife looked at me and said,”We are hunting for Orchids today; you can fish in the morning.”

About 6 mi south of Orick, after passing another herd of Roosevelt Elk near the historic Stone Lagoon Red School House, we arrived at the east side of Big Lagoon.

Big Lagoon is a ‘lake’, fed by Maple Creek, and separated from the Pacific Ocean by a berm of sand on the west shore. Two to three times a year the lagoon gets so full that it breaches and flushes out into the Pacific Ocean. This has not happened and the lagoon is full, brimming and ready to breech.

We parked our car and headed out to find the Calypso Orchid. Like all orchids, the Calypso Orchid doesn’t live in the soil like most plants. It lives in the layer of duff above the soil allowing plenty of air and water for its roots.

We headed up a hill side looking in the duff of fallen branches and spruce needles for the Calypso Orchid. As we hiked up the trail, we begin to see all sorts of other plants that are starting to flower. We see white and purple Trillium Flowers (Trillium ovatum), several dozen different types of Mushrooms, the little yellow Monkey Paw (Mimulus aurantiacus) and a Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) starting to bud. We come upon a clearing overlooking Big Lagoon, the Pacific Ocean and Patrick’s Point State Park.

We both stand there in silence looking at the view when my wife says,”Don’t move.”

I immediately start thinking the worst. Poison Oak? No, there is very little on the coast here. A snake? No, no poisonous snakes on the coast either. A Bear? Deer?

“Look by your left foot. She said as she bent over.

I looked down and there was a Calypso Orchid. So small and so dainty. I probably would have walked right by it, or worse, right on it. The plant was approximately 5 inches tall with three green leaves, a skinny stem protruding up and a “lady slipper” flower on top. We both got on our knees to get a closer look. Once we were at flower level, I suddenly noticed about a dozen more scattered around the forest floor. Each Calypso Orchid was at a different stage of flowering. A few were withering, two were in the bud stage and the rest were in full bloom. Each flower was a slightly different color of purple, ranging from a deep purple to soft lavender.

We spread out our picnic blanket, careful not to smash a banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) crawling by, and enjoyed our lunch. Feeling content with our Calypso Orchid encounter, we hiked back to the car and headed back to Orick.

As we were driving back, I looked at my wife and before I could say a word, she said. “Yes we can stop at La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant for a taco and a beer.”

The perfect end, to a perfect day.