Day 7 Avi & Heidi’s Crazy Adventure (aka Project Carnivore)

 

Southern Cricket Frog, about 1” long

We started off early, not for birding sadly, but because we knew there was a long drive ahead as well as a long hike planned. Today we started our hunt for carnivorous plants. The Florida panhandle is home to 31 species of carnivorous plants (plus Venus Flytraps which have naturalized here, but are native to the Carolinas). I believe all 32 species live in bogs.

Dwarf Cyprus trees are deciduous (so look dead right now) and about 15 ft. tall (significantly shorter than the pine trees around here). The water is just over ankle deep.

Our first stop today was at a dwarf Cyprus swamp, but the water was too deep, so no obvious carnivores. Our second hike was a 4 mile hike (including crossing a one-log-wide bridge ) and we found 2 species of sundews and 1 pitcher plant species! We now realize that the plants are just emerging for spring, making them very hard to find. They will probably be in full bloom in 4 weeks and visible from a distance as the flower stalks are usually the tallest part of the plant.

Dwarf Sundew - about the size of my index fingernail.

Yes, they really are that tiny!

Pink Sundew - about 2” across

Sundews have leaves with hairs that produce a sticky substance that attracts small insects (like gnats), traps them and digests them.

[dead] Yellow Pitcher plant - note the mature pitcher is taller than the surrounding grass. In about 4 weeks there will be tall pitchers like this that are bright yellow-green, plus flowers.

An immature Yellow Pitcher.

Pitcher plants are tubular and hold liquid that contains enzymes to digest insects that fall into the pitcher.

Green Anole

Avi demonstrating his balance beam abilities.

Miles driven = 1,375 mi.

Warmest day so far = 81°