Lily Orchid Days this weekend

Gazette Staff Report

PITKIN - Lily Orchid Days will be held in Pitkin near Fort Polk this weekend, August 14-16. It will be hot, but this is the time of the year that the Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii) and yellow fringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) are in flower, and perhaps yellow fringeless orchid (Platanthera integra) and crested yellow orchid (Platanthera cristata). Dr. Charles M. Allen and the Fort Polk crew have located good spots for these plus other notable plants for viewing and photographing opportunities. There is no fee associated with attending the tours and talks.
Dr. Allen says of the event, “This is the 11th annual Lily Orchid Days. It was started so that people across Louisiana and nearby states could see the wonderful orchids and the lilies that are in flower in mid August. It is hot at this time and not many people get out and we were hoping to entice people to get out to see these flowers. The number of participants varies from year to year, with the maximum around 40-45 a few years back. We scout and find the areas to go to see the orchids a few days before so participants will see a minimum of three orchids in flower to maybe five and about the same for lilies. A slide show of orchids and lilies will fill in the other orchids and lilies that flower in the area at other times of the year.”
The following is the schedule of events:
Friday August 14:                                                                   
5 p.m. - Tour of the cool spots at Allen Acres
8 p.m. - Moth light/hummingbird moth/firefly counting
9 p.m. - “Orchids of West Central Louisiana” by Dr. Charles M. Allen and Other Slide Shows At Allen Acres
Saturday August 15:
8 a.m. - Caravan to Carolina lily and yellow fringed orchid spots, as well as other plant spots. Group will depart from Allen Acres.        
Approxiamtely beginning at 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. - Rest, slides shows, anywhere out of the heat; and on demand: “Orchids of West Central Louisiana” by Dr. Charles M. Allen and Other Slide Shows
5 p.m. - Tour of Allen Acres shady spots
8 p.m. - Moth light/hummingbird moth/firefly counting
9 p.m. - “Orchids of West Central Louisiana”  by Dr. Charles M. Allen At Allen Acres and Other Slide Shows
Sunday August 16:
8 a.m. - Caravan to Carolina lily and yellow fringed orchid spots, as well as other plant spots. Group will depart from Allen Acres.
Directions to Allen Acres: From the east sides of the state, get on La. 10 going west out of Oakdale and follow La. 10 thru Elizabeth and Pitkin and then six miles past Pitkin, you will enter Cravens. In Cravens, you will turn south (left) onto La. 399. La. 399 is just east of the two stores in Cravens. If you are coming from the west, you will turn onto La. 10 at Pickering and follow La. 10 just south of Ft. Polk and continue east for about 15 miles. After entering Cravens, watch for the store on the right and then turn right onto La. 399. Now all are on La. 399, follow it south for 1.8-1.9 miles and in a sharp curve to the left, turn right into our driveway. If you are coming from the south, get on La. 112 (an east-west road) and turn north onto La. 399. You will travel north on La. 399 for six miles and turn left into Allen Acres.
For more information, contact Dr. Charles Allen or Susan Allen at 337-328-2252 or email them at native@camtel.net. Allen Acres also has a bed and breakfast available for those who wish to stay overnight for the three-day event. (Visit www.allenacresbandb.com for more information).