YOUR ROLE IN HELPING TO PROTECT ORCHIDS

Orchids are very sensitive to disturbance - many species grow under extremely unique conditions, which are easily altered or destroyed. A damaged plant or patch may take years to grow back, if it is able to at all. For these same reasons, it is nearly impossible to transplant most of the wild orchids.

People from all over the world have come to discover and photograph the orchids and wildflowers of the Bruce Peninsula. Over the years, popular species have been heavily impacted by those who come to appreciate them. The impacts are cumulative: if only a few people step off trail and trample the site around an orchid, it may kill the plant. For example, about half of the local Calypsos have been lost in the past couple of decades by trampling and digging up. Your conscientious help is needed to save the species you cherish. Please do your part to preserve orchids on the Bruce Peninsula. 

The biggest threats to orchids and wildflowers on the Bruce Peninsula are:

• Trampling
• Picking
• Digging Up
• Habitat Loss 

Be Wildflower Friendly...
When viewing wildflowers:
stay strictly on trails
look with binoculars from a distance
do not trample around the plant
do not touch the plant
help educate others!

When photographing:
stay on the trail
use longer lenses for distance
no ground sheets
help to educate others!

Gardeners:
never transplant orchids from the wild
buy plants only from reputable sources that do not harvest from the wild
help to educate others!

Please report sightings of rare orchids to the National Parks.

Thanks for doing your part to protect the orchids and wildflowers that we love to see!