Yellow Lady Slipper

From about mid May through most of June, the lady slipper family makes their appearance.  The Yellow Lady Slipper often (in my experience) appears first.  The bloom of this flower usually always signifies the onslaught of mosquito season.  This particular specimen grows in a group every year near a creek I'm familiar with.  I'm assured of being attacked by a swarm when getting out of the car to photograph these plants.  You can spray all the DEET you want and wear bug masks, it doesn't matter, because these mosquitoes that live here are kamikaze mosquitoes and they don't care about how you go into battle - they are getting their pound of flesh!