Lady's slippers

Archbald Pothole State Park is sort of a forgotten local landmark. The pothole is a geologic formation - a deep, narrow hole in the rocky ground - that was once a tourist attraction. Now the hole is ringed by a chainlink fence, which you can lean on while tossing your Red Bull can into the abyss, if you are so inclined. So the pothole itself has largely lost its appeal. The park still sees regular traffic, though: it's a renowned spot for picking up dudes, if you're a dude.

But there's something else special! A few years ago a friend tipped us off to the lady's slipper orchids, Cypripedium acaule. We see them now and then in this area, but never in the numbers Archbald has. They like well-drained soil, I read, and this place has it: talusy bumps and hummocks left over from the coal mining days.

It's a pleasant way to pass a Friday morning... sitting on one of those little hills inside a small forest of orchids, enjoying their smell and the sun.