This delicate flower bloomed just off the main trail in the wooded area of Anderson Prairie Park last spring. Note that the flower stalk has no leaves.

Often, hidden gems such as this go unnoticed as they may be hidden by leaf litter or by taller prairie plants in the main prairie section. For this reason, we recommend our wildflower walks. The guide can point out small, rare and difficult to see plants.

Tiny, hidden plants such as this also make a good case for staying on trails as it is easy to trample plants shielded from view.

Some plants of the ochid family cannot grow unless specific microrganisms are present in the soil. This and complicated underground root structures of native plants suggest that wild plants should never be dug up unless threatened by development.