The Ridges Sanctuary

A more comprehensive blooming list, with 100 species of The Ridges, can be downloaded here.

Related Plant Links

University of Wisconsin Herbarium – the website features a searchable database of Wisconsin plants and lichens, including photos, habitat descriptions, distribution maps and more.

Orchids of Wisconsin – a somewhat technical site, with detailed descriptions and photos of all Wisconsin orchid species.

The photos shown above are just a few of the wildflowers and other plants found in the Sanctuary. They are arranged chronologically so that you can view an entire blooming season, from early spring through late fall.

The Ridges Sanctuary is internationally recognized for the incredible diversity of plant life found here. Nearly 500 vascular plants find their home in this rich complex of boreal forest and wetlands. Some, like the delicate Twinflower, are typically found much further north, but can survive here because of the cooling effects of Lake Michigan. Others, like the insect-eating Pitcher Plant and Sundew, prefer the acidic waters of the swales. Twelve endangered or threatened plant species are protected within the Sanctuary.

Among all the plants found here, perhaps none are better known and sought after than the orchids. Over 25 native orchids bloom in The Ridges Sanctuary. These range in size from the tiny Heartleaf Twayblade to the tall, elegant Showy Lady’s-slipper. In order to protect these rare beauties from damage or theft, exact locations of most orchid species are usually not disclosed except to qualified researchers.