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.
![The Spreading Pogonia is a rare and exotic plant found in North Carolina.](https://carolinafootprints.com/images/11_May_29_Orchid_01_cf.jpg)
![Wild orchids can be found on the pine savannas of NC's coastal plains.](https://carolinafootprints.com/images/11_May_29_Orchid_02_cf.jpg)