Cabin Creek Bog Visit

Last Sunday we took a trip back to Cabin Creek Bog, Randolph County, to see how the site was faring.  It had been several years since I had been there, after spending so much time doing research there.  It was great to see the place again.

The Melanthium virginicum (or Veratrum virginicum, aka bunchflower) was blooming in the section known as the prairie fen.  It was much smaller this year than previous years, but still lovely.

The Royal or Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) was almost past blooming, but several decent looking flowers were still to be found.  There were several in the sedge meadow section of the fen, but more in the prairie section.

The Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum, aka Cacalia tuberosa) was one of the most frequent blooming forbs in the prairie fen and sedge meadow sections.

Dr. Ruch standing in the Prairie Dock and Hard-stem Bulrush.

Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) blooming along the edge of the prairie fen.

What a lovely little shrub with red petioles!  Looks like some kind of alternate-leaved ash...

One of the highlights was finding some Grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus) blooming.  For an upside-down flower, it's not that bad looking.

Speckled Phlox (Phlox maculata) was looking good.

Sticky False Asphodel (Triantha glutinosa, aka Tofieldia glutinosa) was blooming in front of the Indian Plantain along the marl run.

Most of the Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula rubra) was still in bud, but this one was looking pretty decent.  The Pussy Willow in the background (plus the ninebark) is one of the reasons that this site gets burned every couple years.

A group of botanists.  It seemed odd without Dr. Torke, who had spent a lot of time with us at the site.

This is the obligatory picture of the sundews.  I try not to think of how many sundews on which I stepped.

As we were leaving, I started to tell someone how the Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides) would be blooming here very soon.  Then we found one.  Then another.  Soon, we noticed that quite a few were blooming.

Cladium mariscoides (smooth sawgrass) in bloom.

Carex buxbaumii in full glory, with Eleocharis rostellata in the background.

More Calopogon tuberosus pics

I am glad this site has been preserved.  It was fun to revisit it and to spend time with the other botanists.