This is the lovely native Lesser Purple-Fringed Orchid (Platanthera psychodes) that I discovered (July 5, 2011) among a blaze of 70 such beauties at 6560 feet elevation on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, the highest mountain in the southeastern United States. They were seen in the bright sun, on the north side of the main road to the crest about 1/8 mile from top parking area.
Most were 12-20 inches tall, distinguishing them from the Larger Purple Fringed Orchid (Platanthera Grandiflora) which can reach up to 4 feet. This was the only wild orchid I saw while hiking the trails beside the creeks in the Great Smokey Mountains while also looking for another 20 species. Perhaps this is an excuse to go back in the springtime when more natives are blooming.