The rare and beautiful orchid called the Showy Lady Slipper can be seen in many magnificent colors along a segment of Hwy 11 between Greenbush and Baudette along the Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway www.watersofthedancingsky.org.

Showy Lady Slippers are extremely hard to establish or transplant. It not only takes very unique soil conditions to originate the growing of a Showy Lady Slipper, but it also takes seven years of growth for the plant to mature, before it will bloom. The Minnesota DNR and DOT have been working together for several years to help preserve the settings that allow the particularly rare flowers of Minnesota to grow in a natural state along the grasslands adjacent to the highways. With less than 1 percent of the state’s original prairie land remaining, the majority of the original prairie lands are found between highway and railroad right-of-ways.


Annual Wildflower Route Celebration - Williams Garden Club

The City of Williams, located along the Wildflower Route, claims the title of “Orchid Capital of the Nation.” The immediate area surrounding Williams contains over 20 varieties of orchids, adding up to over 10 million flowers. The Williams Gardeners annually stake approximately 40 different wildflowers and provide detailed maps for enthusiasts looking for the unique flowers. To increase public awareness of this unique area and its flowers, the Williams Garden Club hosts an Annual Wildflower Celebration each June. For more information contact the Warroad Area Chamber of Commerce at 218-386-3543.