Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • Perhaps the most beautiful of North America's threatened carnivorous plant species, the white-topped pitcher plant is native to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and the western tip of North Carolina. This surprising find in Georgia's Grady County is possibly the part of the state's easternmost population, and covered a very rural area in a pine forest no bigger than an acre.
    White-topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracen..lla)
  • This distant relative to the pineapple is endangered in the wild in North America. Confined to a few remaining counties in locations far out into the Florida Everglades and Puerto Rico, it is listed as a threatened species. Major concerns for this species are habitat loss and an invasive exotic weevil (Metamazius callizona) found in South Florida that kills it. Luckily this species is also native to Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia, where populations are more stable. This one was photographed in SW Florida's Fakahatchee Strand. Look closely and you will see it sharing a limb with native zig-zag orchid (Epidendrum rigidum) in this submerged pond apple tree.
    West Indian Tufted Airplant (Guzmani..hia)
  • The large whorled pogonia is one of the few orchids I've invested a massive amount of time looking for ranging nearly a decade, and have never seen it in flower. This one was photographed as part of a colony in a secret location and is perhaps the only colony in existence in the state of Florida. The usual range starts in Georgia and continues up the East Coast into Canada. One of these days I'll replace this photo of one in bloom.
    Large Whorled Pogonia (Isotria verti..ata)
  • One of the most unusual plants I've ever seen, the copper ladies-tresses orchid literally looks like it could be made out of copper. Extremely rare in the United States and almost impossible to see in the dark, remote forests where they are found, this tiny terrestrial orchids can be found only in a few scattered locations in Florida, but is much more common in the Caribbean Islands. This one was found (and almost accidentally stepped on) in rural Central Florida.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • Unusual angle of a wild blooming ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) photographed from behind the flower on Florida's Fakahatchee Strand on a steamy hot summer morning.
    Ghost Orchid Photographed from an Un..e #1
  • Although not truly native, this naturalized orchid can be found in just about every wooded area in South Florida.
    African Spotted Orchid (Oeceoclades ..ata)
  • Close-up of the very rare speckled ladies'-tresses in full flower in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida.
    Speckled Ladies'-tresses (Cyclopogon..des)
  • View of this tiny leafless orchid with flower buds. The only way to find these in the wild is to look for these long tangling roots.
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • Ghost orchid photographed on a steamy hot summer morning in the Fakahatchee Strand. Split-toned sepia for an antiqued look.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • These three orchids were part of a much larger colony of about 100 plants found in the Apalachicola National Forest. Incredible yellow color!
    Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Gymnadenio..gra)
  • A very large fringed orchid growing in a ditch in the Goethe State Forest in Levy County, Florida.
    Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera c..ris)
  • The brilliantly pink rose pogonia orchid growing wild in Goethe State Forest in Central Florida.
    Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides)
  • Close-up of this beautiful and strange flower. These are not commonly found in Florida. I've only found them among palmettos in pine scrubs, and only on three occasions.
    Michaux's Orchid (Habenaria quinqueseta)
  • Full plant close-up showing the distinctive pair of leaves present during flowering.
    Southern Twayblade (Neottia bifolia)
  • A green southern twayblade with another new plant just sprouting in Levy County, Florida.
    Southern Twayblade (Southern Twaybla..dis)
  • Close up of the fertilized flowers of the zig-zag orchid, or rigid epidendrum, photographed from the boardwalk in the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Fl.  These flowers have been self-fertilized and still retain the flower after the fruit is set.
    Zig-Zag Orchid (Epidendrum rigidum)
  • Wide angle shot of a section of a huge cluster of green-fly orchids, some of them in bloom. These were found in Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest. These are very common above natural springs and sinkholes.
    Green-fly Orchid (Epidendrum magnoli..iae)
  • Pine-pink orchid growing in the Fakahatchee Strand. This springtime bloomer is most often found in wet areas - often rooted in floating logs or old wood. I have also found them growing in sandy marl, so habitats can vary.
    Pine-Pink (Bletia purpurea)
  • A perfect specimen of a dingy-flowered star orchid in full flower growing in the Sweetwater Strand, deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Dingy-Flowered Star Orchid (Epidendr..mum)
  • One of dozens of emerging green adder's-mouth orchids in a  healthy localized colony in Central Florida.
    Green Adder's-Mouth (Malaxis unifolia)
  • Close-up with details of the common grass-pink orchid.
    Common Grass-Pink Orchid (Calopogon ..sus)
  • Butterfly orchids in flower deep in the heart of the Florida Everglades. These were found growing in a cypress dome - which dot the vast sea of sawgrass.
    Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tampensis)
  • The largest group of pine-pinks I've ever seen or heard of found growing in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Pine-Pink (Bletia purpurea)
  • A beautiful cluster of cardinal airplants in bloom growing in a cypress tree in the Florida Everglades near Homestead. These endangered epiphytes are often visited by hummingbirds.
    Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fascic..ata)
  • The rare and exquisite ghost orchid photographed just after dawn in its natural environment.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Unusual angle of a wild blooming ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) photographed from behind the flower on Florida's Fakahatchee Strand on a steamy hot summer morning.
    Ghost Orchid Photographed from an Un..e #2
  • Close-up detail of a ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid Bud
  • Ghost orchid bud I was monitoring over the space of a couple of weeks deep in the Fakahatcheee Strand. Luckily they are hard to find and grow in often difficult-to-access areas. Out of the 88+ individuals I've found over the years, many of them have been stolen by orchid poachers.
    Ghost Orchid with Bud
  • Ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid with Flower Bud
  • The Oregon forestsnail (not forest snail) is a long-lived, slow-moving animal that is food for many other animals and is found in the western part of Oregon and Washington states, north into extreme southwestern British Columbia - where it is listed as an endangered species (and is listed as vulnerable for the US). This one was found just on the western side of the Cascade Mountains in King County, Washington.
    Oregon Forestsnail (Allogona townsen..ana)
  • Detailed image of the inflorescence of the northern needleleaf air plant, complete with it's purple, tube-like flower. This one was found growing in a tree in the Fakahatchee Strand of Southwest Florida - one of North AMericas hotspots for rare plants such as these bromelaids.
    Northern Needleleaf (Tillandsia balb..ana)
  • Close-up of the inflorescence of the cardinal airplant, photographed here deep in the Fakahatchee Strand of Southwest Florida. You can just see a few of the purple flowers emerging.
    Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fascic..ata)
  • This massive yet common airplant in the wilder parts of the Florida Everglades blooms in the winter among the cypress groves and hammocks of the swamps.
    Cardinal Airplant
  • Three of the ten "first year" whooping cranes flying to their wintering grounds in St. Marks - part of the extensive efforts of Operation Migration.
    Whooping Cranes in Flight!
  • Photographed from above in the Estero Bay Preserve, the wild coco is one of the most spectacular and common terrestrial orchids to be found in Southern Florida.
    Wild Coco Orchid (Eulophia alta)
  • Close-up of the flower of the Pott's giant orchid.
    Pott's Giant Orchid (Pteroglossaspis..sii)
  • The terrestrial cowhorn orchid found growing in the Fakahatchee Strand - in full flower weeks before it was stolen from the wild. This is why I no longer tell anyone where the rare orchids are - this happens all too often! They are too hard to find, and very disheartening when they are taken - usually to die in some orchid enthusiast's collection because it has been shocked by its removal from the conditions in which it grew from seed.
    Yellow Cowhorn Orchid (Cyrtopodium p..lum)
  • Yellow cowhorn orchid found in the Fakahatchee Strand by another orchid enthusiast, and he told me where to find it. This plant was stolen from the wild a couple of weeks later by some lowlife.
    Yellow Cowhorn Orchid (Cyrtopodium p..lum)
  • This incredible orchid has a long history of being taken from the wild for the orchid trade. There are stories of single plants weighing hundreds of pounds being pulled out of the Everglades by the wagon load. These days, small ones are difficult to find.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • Cigar orchids are most often found growing on old cypress stumps or knees.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • How it gets its name. In the summer, these orchids lose all their leaves, and the result looks like a clump of cigars attached to the base of a tree or cypress knee. This massive cigar orchid is the biggest I've ever seen!
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • Wild coco growing in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida. This classic roadside orchid is regularly found in fall and winter, and can reach up to three feet in height.
    Wild Coco Orchid (Eulophia alta)
  • Also known as a giant orchid - this terrestrial orchid looks like anything but and orchid. Many of the ones I've photographed have been about 40-50 inches tall on average.
    Crestless Plume Orchid (Orthochilus ..tus)
  • Yellow cowhorn orchid photographed in the pre-dawn in South Florida with a ring-flash. Hopefully this one will be safe from poachers!
    Yellow Cowhorn Orchid (Cyrtopodium p..lum)
  • Beautifully colored form of the wild coco orchid. This one was found growing next to a ditch in Charlotte County, Florida.
    Wild Coco Orchid (Eulophia alta)
  • A location in Lee County has well over a hundred of these unusual tall orchids growing in two distinct colonies. The location will remain undisclosed as these orchids are becoming very rare at an alarming rate.
    Crestless Plume Orchid (Orthochilus ..tus)
  • The fantastically mottled and twisted flowers of the cigar orchid in a massive display deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is by far the largest one I've found, and hopefully will provide plenty of seeds for this orchid to recover after decades of poaching.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • The unmistakable variegated leaf of the African spotted orchid. The underground pseudobulb is partially exposed for this shot.
    African Spotted Orchid (Oeceoclades ..ata)
  • The African spotted orchid, also known as the monk orchid, has its roots in Africa, from where it is believed it was accidentally or unknowingly brought to Florida. It has also been found in many parts of Puerto Rico.
    African Spotted Orchid (Oeceoclades ..ata)
  • A close-up of a cigar orchid flower against a black diffuser (a photographer's tool for adjusting natural light) in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • Unusual "double-stalked" woodland ladies'-tresses found in full flower in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County, Florida.
    Woodland Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ica)
  • This orchid always eludes me, but this evening I found two, but I was too early by about a week to see it in flower. There is always next year ....
    Spurred Neottia (Eltroplectris neottia)
  • Southern oval ladies'-tresses, also known as October ladies' tresses blooming in an isolated forest in North Florida. This particular orchid is quite hard to find, and has a cool feature - instead of the usual corkscrew spiraling of flowers, the flowers bloom in three straight rows. Very cool-looking from above - almost triangular!
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • In this particular very isolated location in North Florida, I found about fifty-five of these rare orchids.
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • Close-up of the delicate flowers and gentle twist up the flower spike.
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • Close-up with detail view of the self-pollinating flowers.
    Northern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..ata)
  • Lawn orchid photographed on the edge of Loop Road, deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Lawn Orchid (Zeuxine strateumatica)
  • Lace-lipped ladies'-tresses flowering near the edge of a lake in Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida.
    Lace-lipped Ladies'-tresses (Spirant..ata)
  • Giant ladies'-tresses found growing in a dried-up bog in the Apalachicola National Forest. Tubular flowers are a key to identifying this species from all the other similar ladies-tresses orchids.
    Giant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes pr..cox)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It's tough travel through these flooded forests, but many kinds of orchids can be found here together.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • The wonderfully scented Spiranthes odorata growing in shadows of Goethe State Forest in Levy County, Florida.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Unusual "double-stalked" fragrant ladies'-tresses found growing in Goethe State Forest.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses growing in a prairie on the edge of the Fakahatchee Strand. A simple key to identifying this orchid from other ladies'-tresses - just put your nose to it and you will know instantly if it is fragrant or not. Just watch out for the expertly camoflaged crab spiders that are sometimes found among the flowers!
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. I have seen literally hundreds of these in dense areas of thes swamps. Be prepared to walk in ankle-deep flooded forest in November and December!
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • The flowers of the copper ladies'-tresses have the most unusual metallic sheen, something I've never seen in my life. These tiny flowers are about 4-5 millimeters wide, and macro photography was needed here with a ring flash.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • This incredibly small orchid is next to impossible to find. In fact, it's one I thought I might never find, but I stumbled into while looking for caves in the Withlacoocheee State Forest in Central Florida near the river of the same name.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • These thin orchids were about three inches high, and in a colony of about eight plants - all in flower.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • These tiny-flowered members of the Spiranthes orchids are found in summer growing in dry sandy areas. These were photographed near Lake Talquin in Gadsden County.
    Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes t..osa)
  • Close-up of the hairy shadow-witch orchid.
    Hairy Shadow-Witch Orchid (Ponthieva..osa)
  • The brilliant and fuzzy leafless beaked orchid growing in Charlotte County, Florida in a stand of young pine trees. We found an unbelievable number of these all over Southwest Florida this spring and summer. They seem to be thriving in this drought!
    Leafless Beaked Orchid (Sacoila lanc..ata)
  • Close-up view of the beautiful fuzzy scarlet flowers of the leafless beaked orchid.
    Leafless Beaked Orchid Close-up (Sac..ata)
  • Lawn orchid found growing in Fort Myers, Florida but not in a completely wild location. This one along with about five others appeared in one of my cultivated orchid pots on my front porch!
    Lawn Orchid (Zeuxine strateumatica)
  • Photographed from above - these woodland orchids are beautiful!
    Hairy Shadow-Witch Orchid (Ponthieva..osa)
  • The highly rare and unusual green form of the leafless beaked orchid found in a secret location. This one blew us away! It was unusually large, as well as different from all the other normal ones nearby.
    Leafless Beaked Orchid (Sacoila lanc..dis)
  • Close-up of these beautiful delicate flowers in Jefferson County, near the Gulf Coast.
    Grass-leaved Ladies'-tresses (Spiran..lis)
  • Close-up of the delicate fragrant ladies'-tresses found growing in Goethe State Forest, Florida.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • This small and beautiful orchid was found growing with about a dozen others along the road outside of Auburn, Alabama. First time I'd ever seen this delicate member of the Spiranthes genus.
    Northern Slender Ladies'-tresses
  • The hard-to-locate Wister's Coralroot is not only tiny, but blends in perfectly with the forest colors. This one was found growing in a patch of palmettos in Central Florida.
    Wister's Coralroot (Corallorhiza wis..ana)
  • Close-up with details of Wister's coralroot flowers.
    Wister's Coralroot (Corallorhiza wis..ana)
  • One of america's most endangered birds..... this image is featured in the National Audubon Society's 2011 Calendar.
    Whooping Crane
  • Ribbon orchid growing on the side of a tree deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. Without leaves to help spot it, this orchid is nearly invisible until it blooms. This one is just starting to bloom.
    Ribbon Orchid (Campylocentrum pachyr..zum)
  • Close up of the tiny jingle bell orchid. This is the largest one of these I have found to date, and I repeated the five mile hike from the road about a half dozen times until this 3mm flower bud finally opened for this photograph!
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • A very large (for this tiny orchid) and mature jingle bell orchid with seedpods. How tiny are these orchids? The trunk the roots are clinging to is about one and a half inch thick.
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • The world-famous ghost orchid photographed here in its natural environment.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • A ghost orchid high in a pop ash tree in a secret location in Collier County. It's good to know that they do in fact grow quite well outside of the Fakahatchee Strand and the Corkscrew Swamp!
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Ghost orchid in the early morning, catching a rare sunbeam in the deepest part of the Fakahatchee Strand. Truly one of the most beautiful and exotic orchids in the world.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Side view of the ghost orchid. The five to six inch spur is a long hollow tube that contains the nectar which draws the giant silk moth. This unique moth has a six inch tongue that while reaching the bottom of the spur to feed, some pollen from the flower's anther will stick to the head of the moth, and then get transfered to the next ghost orchid it feeds on. While visiting several flowers during the course of a night - it unknowingly pollinates these flowers to produce the next generation of ghosts. Without this special moth, we would have no ghost orchids.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Ghost orchid in full flower on a drab stalk growing from a tangle of green-gray roots. See how the flower just seems to float in mid air?
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Close-up side view of one of the world's most famous orchids!
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Vanilla orchid photographed in the early morning in the Fakahatchee Strand. Well worth the hike through standing water and swarms of mosquitoes!
    Oblong-leaved Vanilla Orchid (Vanill..tha)
  • A rare sight! A pair of ghost orchids from a single plant, high in a pop ash tree in a secret location in Collier County, Florida.
    Double Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax li..nii)
  • A rare sight! A pair of ghost orchids from a single plant! Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
    Double Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax li..nii)
  • Another very rare sight! Three seedling jingle bell orchids with vestigial leaves and recognizable epiphytic roots. These were found in an area with very many young pop ash trees with at least 200 established jingle bells growing on them. Soon these leaves will disappear and in time will become the normal leafless tangles of roots common to both of Florida's Dendrophylax orchids.
    Jingle Bell Orchid Seedling (Dendrop..tus)
  • The rare and exquisite ghost orchid photographed just after dawn in its natural environment.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Close-up of water-spider flowers growing in a ditch in Liberty County, Florida. This orchid is most often found among reeds and wetland grasses, and is very easily missed.
    Water-Spider Orchid (Habernaria repens)
  • Raceme close-up showing details of the flowers of the toothpetal orchid - one of the most common terrestrial orchids in the southen half of Florida.
    Toothpetal Orchid (Habenaria floribunda)
  • By the time I saw my first Rickett's noddingcaps orchid, It had already flowered and gone to seed. A good key to identifying this species is the underside of the heart-shaped leaves. If they are green - they you probably have this orchid.
    Rickett's Noddingcaps (Triphora rick..tii)
  • The leaves of Craighead's noddingcaps are very distinct, and easily identified - green on top, and purple underneath.
    Craighead's Noddingcaps (Triphora cr..dii)
  • A snowy orchid growing in the acidic soil of a seepage bog in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Snowy Orchid (Gymnadeniopsis nivea)
  • This is one of those orchids that  I just can't seem to get the timing right on catching it in flower. Shown here is the split seedpod, with all seeds already blown away by the wind.
    Craighead's Noddingcaps (Triphora cr..dii)
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