Pink Lady Slippers

I've had these flowers blooming behind my house for about a month now. At first I thought the previous owners had planted them, but I've since seen them growing down the road in the woods. After showing them to a friend she found out that they're the elusive pink lady slippers I've heard about as a child.

The plant is a type of orchid that grows under large shady trees. I've always heard that you should not pick them because they are endangered and you would get fined if caught. Actually after researching them more I found out that they're not considered "rare" and are actually quite common. The reason there is concern is because of their difficulty in propagation and climate issues. They don't handle the slightest degree of change well and don't hold up when transplanted and have little chance of making it. So in conclusion If you ever see any type of orchid in the woods don't pick it, take a picture and leave it alone.