I am forever grateful to Sasha Kubicek for introducing me to one of my favourite hiking spots near Victoria, BC. It is a hike which veers off from the Galloping Goose near Matheson Lake in Metchosin. I first walked this hike in 2017 with a group from the Victoria Orchid Society including our special guest, Tom Mirenda (an orchid guru from the Smithsonian visiting from Washington, DC for a series of speaking engagements at the time.)
June 2017 - members of the Victoria Orchid Society and friends. Photo by Amy Norris
I continue to enjoy this trail three to four times every year, as it is fairly short, moderately steep (offering a decent work-out) and always rewarding. The views are amazing, expanding from the Sooke Hills, the Sooke Harbour, the Olympic Mountains, and, of course, Matheson Lake.
Sasha also shared where to find an exceptional “mega patch” of native orchids. Close to the viewpoint, there are several shady patches among very established firs and arbutus trees. Sadly, one of the mature arbutus trees has come down this year, altering the landscape from previous years. However, these shady ecosystems provide the perfect conditions for native orchids, especially Piperia.
On June 4th, 2021, I enjoyed my third hike of the year on this trail and was rewarded with the discovery of an abundance of orchids. There were spotted Coralroot orchids seedpods, hundreds of Piperia, many with tiny spikes, barely visible, and a mossy meadow of rattlesnake plantain orchids. Again, these orchids were very small, perhaps only a few inches in width. Most were hidden in the mossy ground cover.
Goodyera oblongifolia - It would be easy to miss seeing these tiny orchids as most were half covered in moss. But they were prolific in the mossy ground cover. The distinctive pattern on the leaves make them easy to find once you train your eye to recognize them.
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis - I was surprised to see Coralroot orchids in bloom this late in spring until I researched this variety. They bloom slightly later that the more common variety of Coralroot orchids and they lack the stripes and spots on the lip of the common variety. A pleasant surprise indeed!
A highlight for me was being able to capture one photo that included all three different types of native orchids, the orchid trilogy…. These orchids and photos will never grace the covers of garden design magazines but they are our Island grown treasures.
I cannot wait to go back in a few weeks to see the tiny, delicate blooms on the spikes we saw today. I look forward to posting again when I return!