When you think of orchids, large showy blossoms of various colors seen in plant centers is what comes to mind to many people. But the wild orchids of the northeastern U.S. are smaller and tend to be a single color. Summer in the north is the time of year to find various species of wild orchids.

One such plant is the white-fringed orchid. On New York’s Long Island this plant grows in acidic sandy wet meadows, moist open woodlands and bogs. It grows to about 12 inches tall and has a cluster of exquisite white blossoms, each blossom is about a half inch long. Butterflies, moths and bees are its pollinators.

Though small, this is a beautiful orchid found in the eastern U.S.