Nearly science fiction like in appeal and beauty, the flower of the carnivorous Pitcher-plant, Sarracenia purpurea is as unusual as an Ohio flower gets. It begs the questions, "How did these flowers evolve?"
The boardwalk leading to the bog mat has massive displays of several varieties of ferns. The Cinnamon fern, Osmunda cinnamomea named for its fertile fronds, which resemble cinnamon sticks and Royal fern, Osmunda regalis are both found along the path.
Swamp-Candles, Lysimacia terristris grows on the bog mat, creating high-lights of yellow in amongst the green vegetation.
Scanning out across the mat we could see a multitude of rare pink Ohio orchids...
growing within the mats of reed and sedge-filled spaghnum moss is Rose Pagonia, Pogonia ophioglossoides. The most delicate of pink orchids, it is a breath-taking visual treat.
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Our group remained on the boardwalk, and gave up the opportunity for eye-popping photos of these beauties inorder to preserve their future populations. Trampling across a bog mat is forbidden in this location as it can be very damaging to the rare acid-loving plants hanging on to existence in this bog. As conservation minded people, we cannot go stomping across the very rarities we claim to protect. So be a sport, and follow the link to a photo of this rare Ohio native plant.
Thanks for documenting the trip with your words and photos. Brown's Lake Bog is one of my favorite Ohio places.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos at Brown's Bog. I live near there, and usually manage a visit once a year. The last time I was there, there was extensive wind damage to the forest. We had to climb over and under tree tops to get to the bog. Still...an adventure.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan and Millie,
ReplyDeleteYes, Brown's Lake Bog is a bit of a neglected jewel. There were trees downed on the boardwalk when we visited and some on-going problems with invasive plants. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could get a "Friends of the Bog" group together to help?
Thanks for being the kind of people who care.
Cheryl