Showy Lady's Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium reginae) at Eshqua Bog Natural Area
Grantham’s Conservation Commission has begun a partnership with the New Hampshire Academy of Science (NHAS) in native orchid restoration. Originally founded in 1919 as an affiliate organization of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), NHAS is one of only 45 academies in the nation. It provides extra-curricular science research opportunities for middle and high school students by leasing 3,000 square feet of laboratory space from the Crossroads Academy in Lyme, NH.
Twenty years ago, one of the projects selected was studying three New England native Lady’s Slipper Orchids — Showy, Yellow, and Rams Head (Cypripedium reginae, C. parviflorum, and C. arietinum). iNaturalist data show very few colonies of any of these orchids in New Hampshire, but historical records suggest they were once more prevalent. In contrast, the Pink Lady’s Slipper (C. acaule) is New Hampshire’s state flower and is commonly seen in our state, including Grantham.
In these twenty years of research, NHAS has greatly increased production of these endangered orchids. Seeds collected from native colonies in Vermont and Maine are activated with a specific bleach bath protocol. This not only kills contaminant bacteria and mold spores, but the seeds germinate faster with a higher yield. The academy has shortened a germination period of 9 - 12 months down to four weeks. Germination rates of barely 1% have risen to nearly 80%.
This increased production has allowed analyses that measure the genetic diversity of individual plants from the different collection sites. Genetic diversity has implications for conservation efforts in a changing world. Snippets of DNA called “microsatellites” are the measurements of comparison. Poster presentations of this work were presented in Taiwan in 2024 at the Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Taiwan International Orchid Show ( https://www.vnews.com/School-Notes-Feb-12-2024-53911834 ).
These and other genetic studies are done in parallel with field based ecological studies that observe population changes. For example, over the past 20 years, the Academy has observed a shrinking Showy Lady’s Slipper Orchid population and an increase in the Yellow Lady’s Slipper Orchid numbers at the Eshqua Bog site. This appears to correlate with increasing forest shade, a natural occurrence in the ecology of a bog.
The horticultural achievements of this work have now reached a point where NHAS can begin to introduce these species to the environment. Sanctuary gardens were established in Vermont last year and now in New Hampshire. Grantham is fortunate to be included in these trials. This year, only the Showy Lady’s Slippers are numerous enough in the laboratory to be considered for introduction to the outdoors.
Presently, working with the Grantham Conservation Commission, a box of seedlings has been placed in our garden. Garden Club members Amelia and Jim Lantz identified a suitable wild spot for a minimally monitored planting on the trail to Leavitt Pond. Adjacent False Hellebore (Veratrum viride) as well as Trilliums, False Solomon Seal, and Jewelweed are known companion wetland plants to Showy Lady's Slippers.
Field ecologist Olivia Streit M.S. measured canopy coverage with a spherical densiometer, selecting the site with 72% coverage despite the possible competition from the Jewelweed. Her colleagues, Alyson Michael M.S. and Jessica Mast PH.D., assisted in planting the buried seedlings. These are protected in wooden boxes which will gradually decay (https://www.nhacadsci.org/meet-our-faculty).
On October 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Howe Library, the students will present preliminary data from this year's boxes. The event is open to the public and will help prepare the students for the 24th World Orchard Conference that will be held in Dresden, Germany in March 2026. All six of their poster abstracts were accepted.
It is likely that the Academy’s partnership with Grantham’s Conservation Commission will continue. If you are interested in knowing more or possibly helping with this project by becoming a sanctuary garden next year, please contact Marty Gearhart at [email protected].
References and Resources:
nhacadsci.org
nhacadsci.org/meet-our-faculty
vnews.com/School-Notes-Feb-12-2024-53911834
Twenty years ago, one of the projects selected was studying three New England native Lady’s Slipper Orchids — Showy, Yellow, and Rams Head (Cypripedium reginae, C. parviflorum, and C. arietinum). iNaturalist data show very few colonies of any of these orchids in New Hampshire, but historical records suggest they were once more prevalent. In contrast, the Pink Lady’s Slipper (C. acaule) is New Hampshire’s state flower and is commonly seen in our state, including Grantham.
In these twenty years of research, NHAS has greatly increased production of these endangered orchids. Seeds collected from native colonies in Vermont and Maine are activated with a specific bleach bath protocol. This not only kills contaminant bacteria and mold spores, but the seeds germinate faster with a higher yield. The academy has shortened a germination period of 9 - 12 months down to four weeks. Germination rates of barely 1% have risen to nearly 80%.
This increased production has allowed analyses that measure the genetic diversity of individual plants from the different collection sites. Genetic diversity has implications for conservation efforts in a changing world. Snippets of DNA called “microsatellites” are the measurements of comparison. Poster presentations of this work were presented in Taiwan in 2024 at the Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Taiwan International Orchid Show ( https://www.vnews.com/School-Notes-Feb-12-2024-53911834 ).
These and other genetic studies are done in parallel with field based ecological studies that observe population changes. For example, over the past 20 years, the Academy has observed a shrinking Showy Lady’s Slipper Orchid population and an increase in the Yellow Lady’s Slipper Orchid numbers at the Eshqua Bog site. This appears to correlate with increasing forest shade, a natural occurrence in the ecology of a bog.
The horticultural achievements of this work have now reached a point where NHAS can begin to introduce these species to the environment. Sanctuary gardens were established in Vermont last year and now in New Hampshire. Grantham is fortunate to be included in these trials. This year, only the Showy Lady’s Slippers are numerous enough in the laboratory to be considered for introduction to the outdoors.
Presently, working with the Grantham Conservation Commission, a box of seedlings has been placed in our garden. Garden Club members Amelia and Jim Lantz identified a suitable wild spot for a minimally monitored planting on the trail to Leavitt Pond. Adjacent False Hellebore (Veratrum viride) as well as Trilliums, False Solomon Seal, and Jewelweed are known companion wetland plants to Showy Lady's Slippers.
Field ecologist Olivia Streit M.S. measured canopy coverage with a spherical densiometer, selecting the site with 72% coverage despite the possible competition from the Jewelweed. Her colleagues, Alyson Michael M.S. and Jessica Mast PH.D., assisted in planting the buried seedlings. These are protected in wooden boxes which will gradually decay (https://www.nhacadsci.org/meet-our-faculty).
On October 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Howe Library, the students will present preliminary data from this year's boxes. The event is open to the public and will help prepare the students for the 24th World Orchard Conference that will be held in Dresden, Germany in March 2026. All six of their poster abstracts were accepted.
It is likely that the Academy’s partnership with Grantham’s Conservation Commission will continue. If you are interested in knowing more or possibly helping with this project by becoming a sanctuary garden next year, please contact Marty Gearhart at [email protected].
References and Resources:
nhacadsci.org
nhacadsci.org/meet-our-faculty
vnews.com/School-Notes-Feb-12-2024-53911834
Professor Olivia Streit, MS, reading her densiometer.
Jesse Mast, PhD; Olivia Streit, MS.; and Alyson Michael MS.; discussing densiometer reading 
Seedling growing in agar before it's planted
Alyson Michael MS, Michèle, Chris Brown, and Jesse Mast PhD
Program Director Peter Faletra, PhD
Professors Mast, Streit, and Michael planting the seedling box