Realizing that many of my favorite areas for nature photography would be swamped with people visiting the coast for Memorial Day weekend I decided to head a bit off the beaten path and explore a pine savanna area in the Croatan National Forest. I was hoping to find something exotic, a wild orchid known as the Spreading Pogoina, Ceistes divaricata. I got lucky and located two of these rare, exotic native plants. The Croatan National Forest is home to a variety of exotic plants such as orchids and carnivorous plants. I have to admit it’s nice not having to travel far in order to photograph these plants. Sometimes close to home is the best place for nature photography.