Spiranthes...found them in my yard too (at two houses) :)

I copied this from Wikipedia. You are fortunate to have this beauty growing in your yard.

Spiranthes diluvialis is a rare species of orchid known by several common names, including Ute lady's tresses (also, Ute ladies'-tresses). The species name diluvialis means "of the flood".[1] It is native to the western United States, where there are scattered, mostly small occurrences in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. An occurrence was recently discovered in southern British Columbia.[2] The plant faces a number of threats to its existence. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.[1]

Spiranthes is a genus of orchids and the picture doesn't show sufficient detail to tell which species the OP has. S diluvalis appears to be one of the least likely since it is noted as a 'new species' i.e. its name was only published in 1984.

But they are all desirable residents of any garden.

Thank you all for ID...I was wondering if it is some kind of orchid. Especially since I found many ladyslippers here, and a helleborine (not native, considered 'possibly invasive'-I found only 1 on my 5ac).
Have been reading about different species. Thanks again for pointing me in right direction.
Now the question is, how to take care of it - it is growing in area that is walked over & even driven over...

Rina

From what I can tell, let it be. You might not mow it's flower stems.
It likes the mowed area (or an area at least that it has unobscured photosynthesis during winter and early spring...and will probably not thrive without fairly close mowing...the leaves are basal by mowing time. They start out more standing upright.

This post was edited by dbarron on Thu, Sep 25, 14 at 7:38