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   The field trip to Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA (8 mi. west of St. Michael) was held May 30, 2026 with a goal of seeing one of Minnesota's orchids in bloom.

   We visited this remnant of the Big Woods ecosystem searching for the elusive Aplectrum hyemale (Putty-root) in bloom. "...Like many small orchids and other natives, it is steadily loosing ground to development and encroaching invasive species, including earthworms." We experienced good weather and no mosquitos. In any given year it is said, maybe 2% of the single leafed plants may bloom. All participants located blooming floral stems​ and altogether we saw and photographed around three dozen specimens.​​​