On August 6th, Kim Smith of the New York Natural Heritage Program visited a known population of Platanthera cristata
(Yellow-crested Orchis) on Long Island. This species is endangered in New York and known from only a few sites in the state, so it is a very rare sight to see. The plants were growing in pitch pine litter near a salt marsh. When she first walked up to the site, she spotted one or two of the beautiful yellow orchids, but then realized that there were hundreds of them scattered across the area. She estimated there were close to 400 plants in total!
