Elves and Fairies in McDonald Forest

Today Ben and I headed back to McDonald Forest and hiked the brand-new New Growth Trail as well as the Old Growth Trail. I found something that looked like purple asparagus on the New Growth Trail:

then found a compressed elfin saddle on the Old Growth Trail:

and then continued the theme of elves and fairies with this fairy slipper orchid (Calypso bulbosa):

and finally got a photo of the wild ginger that we found on last Friday's Wildflower Walk. Since Ben has better luck with the macro setting on my camera, some of these photos are by him (the best ones).