Lady Slipper
Oil on Birch Board 5x5
The Story of Lady Slipper | A Painting of Maine’s Beloved Woodland Flower
$80.00 set in a gold / black floating frame. Previously displayed at Meetinghouse Arts and Neiley Gallery and Studio, Freeport, Maine.
Tucked into the heart of my secluded woods is a secret garden, started long before the first shovel broke ground for the house. Hours were spent clearing trees and bramble so sunlight could fan the clearing. In the first season, I placed cardboard on top of encroaching growth and it looked more like a graveyard than a place of bounty. The second season I unloaded my pickup truck, heavy with the best assistance I could ask for, fresh compost, from a local farmer down the road. Garden paths emerged, delineated by burlap bags sourced from an organic coffee roaster a town over.
It wasn't confidence in my knowledge, but a resolve to be a steward of the land that propelled me to work in the woods two and a half hours from home. Then, amidst the hemlocks, white pines, and birch trees, a single Lady Slipper appeared—a delicate bloom, its petals unfurling in quiet defiance of the wilderness. She wasn't there in previous years, and why now, I didn't question. I thought, a lot like myself.
I moved the burlap and fencing around the flower, honoring its presence with the devotion of a caretaker, not unlike a Little Prince with his rose.
My lil’ Lady Slipper didn’t return. At least not to my garden. But the garden was blessed with an abundance that year. I often revel in how the soil beneath my feet harbors endless secrets, revealing tiny gems and jewels as only the earth can, changing each season, each month, each year.
My Oil Painting Process
What comes to mind when you say Spring in Maine? The challenge lies in the word Spring. The reality is mud. Or, begrudgingly, the late winter blizzard. But, by June, in the understory of dry woods and boggy areas, you can come across a Pink Lady Slipper with a 1 to 3-inch long pouch-like flower that grows singly on a stalk emerging from 2 broad, fuzzy leaves at the base of the plant. (Please don’t pick them.) My Lady Slipper was created during one of those late March blizzards while my wood stove kept the house warm. It’s a tiny oil on acrylic, on a 5x5 birch board panel.
Where to Find Lady Slippers in Maine
Lady Slippers bloom from late May into early July, often in partially shaded sun-dappled wooded trails. Explore this page at Maine.gov to learn about the variety of Lady Slipper species.
I love the Maine State Park Passport Program! A cute pocket-size guide to Maine State Parks has had us jump off the highways in search of stamps at each park! Here are some of the local trails I adore in coastal Maine — all of which are fairly short, easy to navigate, and unique to the area.
Wolfes Neck State Park (along the water!)
Bradbury Mountain State Park (cute view at the top)
Cliff Trail in Harpswell (family-friendly, accessible with a fairy house surprise)
Hedgehog Mountain (not really a mountain )
