Lady Slippers and Wildflowers in Full Bloom

Did you know the Lake of the Woods area is absolutely full of a variety of wildflowers?  It is estimated that more than two million orchids along throughout the area.  One of the most popular of course is the showy lady slipper.  Named the state flower of Minnesota, the showy lady slipper is very rare throughout other parts of the state, but abundant around Lake of the Woods.  History of the MN State Flower.

The pink and white Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) was designated the state flower in 1967 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.142).

The Lady Slipper was considered the state flower long before it was officially passed into law. In 1893 a petition from the Women’s Auxiliary to the World’s Fair was presented to the Senate, asking that the Wild Lady Slipper (Cyprideum calceolous) be designated the state flower. The Senate adopted the resolution on February 4, 1893 (Senate Journal entry), but there is no evidence that the House adopted it. Also, the variety that was designated was not from Minnesota. In 1902 women of the St. Anthony Study Circle brought this to the attention of the Legislature. The Senate passed a new resolution on February 18, 1902, naming the pink and white lady slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the showy lady slipper, as Minnesota’s state flower (Senate Journal entries). The House concurred (House Journal entry).

The designation as official state symbol was written into law in 1967; chief authors were Rep. Jack Morris and Sen. John Tracy Anderson. It was signed by Governor Harold LeVander.

The Minnesota state flower is protected by Minnesota Statutes 18H.18. Information on transplanting lady slippers is available from the Minnesota Department of Natural resources.

Against the law to pick lady slippers.

A century ago, the ostentatious Pink and White Lady’s Slipper was a favorite adornment in rural church altars during the summer. Since 1925, this rare wildflower has been protected by Minnesota state law. In fact, it’s illegal to pick, uproot or unearth the flowers.  The best way to enjoy them is to see them, smell them and take pictures of them.  These flowers are beautiful and rare in many parts of the state.  Lake of the Woods county is full of them.

Showy Lady Slippers are extremely hard to establish or transplant. It not only takes very unique soil conditions to originate the growing of a Showy Lady Slipper, but it also takes seven years of growth for the plant to mature, before it will bloom. The Minnesota DNR and DOT have been working together for several years to help preserve the settings that allow the particularly rare flowers of Minnesota to grow in a natural state along the grasslands adjacent to the highways. With less than 1 percent of the state’s original prairie land remaining, the majority of the original prairie lands are found between highway and railroad right-of-ways.

There are a number of scenic drives around this beautiful area and the Wildflower Route is certainly one of them.  In 1990, Governor Rudy Perpich declared 81 miles of Highway 11 a Minnesota Wildflower Route, in honor of the hundreds of thousands of Showy Lady’s-Slippers growing within sight of the road. The state put up signs depicting the Showy Lady’s-Slipper to mark the route, and pledged to expand the highway only to the south, protecting the masses of Showy Lady’s-Slippers on the north side of the road. The local people and wildflower enthusiasts gather in June for the annual “Wildflower Route Celebration,” at the Williams Senior Center in Williams, Minnesota.

  More than two million orchids blanket the Lake of the Woods area. To catch a glimpse of these beautiful flowers, you’ll begin at the Lady Slipper Park in Williams, go through the town, then head west out to Blueberry Hill, located on the south side of Hwy 11. Please remember that it is illegal to pick or uproot the Showy Lady Slipper in Minnesota. However, you’re welcome to ”take” as many photos as you’d like!

For a free Wildflower Route Brochure and route map, just contact Lake of the Woods Tourism.

This is a self guided tour along this marked and labeled route featuring hundreds of the MN state flowers, the “Showy Lady Slipper” and the Yellow Lady Slipper which is one of the most common in the area with two variations, Large and Small. These beautiful orchids plus 50 plus other different wildflowers can be found in and around the 4+ mile route in Williams and at Blue Berry Hill park and camp ground, 4 miles west of Williams on Hwy. 11.

Lake of the Woods being so far north creates special opportunities to see variety that you may not see at home.  For some, this is a highlight. For others, perhaps a break from fishing.  Whatever the case, be sure to bring your camera!

To learn more about Lake of the Woods, check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

To find lodging, check out our lodging page.

And for more Scenic Drives around Lake of the Woods