Orchids have been in my life since childhood. My mom was an orchid grower, running two greenhouses in our backyard. She cultivated all kinds, mostly tropical, like you’d expect. But as I got older, I became fascinated by the rare few that thrive in California’s temperate climate. Most of them grow in the Sierras.

Then I discovered one that doesn’t.

It’s the Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine). The only invasive orchid in California. Originally from Europe, it’s the one orchid you can reliably find growing wild on San Francisco streets. Most people don’t notice it. I do. I’ve trained my eyes to spot it from paces away. It blooms from May to July, and if I see one, I take a picture. Every time.

I can’t fully explain why this rogue orchid brings me joy. Maybe because it’s an orchid growing wild and free, hiding in plain sight. Maybe because it feels like a secret no one else knows. Gardeners rip them out. I’ve seen them disappear after I stop to take a photo. Maybe my neighbors get suspicious when they see a grown man snapping pictures of what looks like a weed.

I don’t care. It’s an orchid.

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