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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pictures of pitchers

I was finally able to get out of the Visitor’s Center today, and head out for my last chance to enjoy some pitcher plants before I leave. 

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I headed for an area that I knew of that had a variety of pitcher plant blooms…red, green, yellow, and intergrades.  I truly am fascinated by these carnivorous plants.  Since the burn, there’s not much to look at here right now.

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I put my knee high rubber boots on, and traipsed across to an area of great biodiversity.  It’s just off the exit ramp from a closed truck weigh station along US 90.  This area is actually not on refuge property, but it was obvious by the trampled grasses that I was not the first one to stop and appreciate this wetland area.  I’m so happy that I am here long enough to see the actual pitchers emerge.  Don’t those look like blood vessels coursing through the upper parts of the plant?

58 Escatawpa Trail2

What I was hoping to find was the elusive Whitetop Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia leucophylla).   That pitcher is totally white with red veins.  I found a few examples of what I think are hybrids between the whitetops and the more common yellow and red pitcher plants.  There were only a few of these plants in the wetlands.  I’m feeling pretty happy about finding them.  Smile

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As I was walking among the blooms, I was able to watch a drama unfold.  A fly landed on one of the pitchers, and was enticed by the sweet (to it) fragrance of the pitcher.  It slowly made it’s way to the opening,…

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…and crawled inside.  This plant is not fully developed yet, so the fly was able to crawl back out.  The next time it chooses a mature plant, it won’t be so lucky!  By then, the downward facing hairs will trap it inside, and the pitcher plant will consume another meal.  Kind of made me feel like Darwin today observing the survival of the fittest.  Nerd smile

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Last night I posted pictures of these artifacts asking if anyone knew what they were.  Fonda got it correct.  They are two types of pots that were attached to the pine trees here back in the 1920’s and 30’s to harvest pine sap.  Slashes were cut in the trees, and the pots nailed in below those slashes to catch the sap.  That pine sap was then turned into turpentine, and used in the ship building industry.  Fragments of these pots can be found in the pine savannahs on the refuge, and I located two such fragments yesterday as I took my hike down the Dees Trail.   Finding things like this certainly brings history to life for me.

 

DONNA, left a comment today suggesting that I supplement my dark chocolate pecan cluster treatment for my very stiff neck with a shot of ‘Redi-Whip’.   Her idea was that I should just tilt my head back, open my mouth, and squirt a shot of whipped cream into my mouth.  Sounds like a good idea, but since the neck is so stiff, I can’t tilt my head back.  So, my question is, will that shot of whipped cream just blast out through my nose?  Confused smile

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

27 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures. Thanks for taking the time to find the flowes and sharing the shots. I hope Emma gets lots of doggie treats in her basket. Have a Happy Easter.

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  2. gorgeous pictures of the pitchers!!.now as for the fly..he lived for another day!..
    Happy Easter to you and Emma!!

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  3. Tell you how little I know about plants... I thought this post was about different type of drink pitchers! :O

    Funny you mentioned Darwin, for I'm watching Geo Natl and it kept mentioned Darwin, too!

    Still a stiff neck? Hope it'll get better sooner!

    Happy Easter!

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  4. I'm thinking a shot on the cluster would prevent additional injury to your neck. Sounds like a great cure for a stiff neck

    You pictures of the fly were really cool! Nature is a beautiful thing to watch and enjoy.

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  5. Love the pitchers. Have never seen anything like them before.

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  6. I think the pitchers are both beautiful and a little creepy. Isn't nature wonderful?

    Hope you neck is improving. :)

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  7. Excellent plant pictures. You sure found a nice variety!

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  8. You are right; the pitchers do look like they have blood vessels. Lucky fly!!
    Happy Easter to you.

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  9. Beautiful flowers. It amazes me how you have the patience to get such great pictures.

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  10. I had no idea there were so many varieties and colors of pitcher plants. They are really beautiful.

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  11. Carnivorous plants are indeed interesting. You captured the fly's journey so well. Good job, Judy! Incredible pictures of the pitchers!

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  12. Great job on the fly pictures...I was rooting for the pitcher plant but I guess it has to grow up a bit first!

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  13. Another excellent post! I really like Pitcher Plants however I am surprised by the variety. I have to admit, I was cheering for the “Pitcher” as the fly made its way down inside. I am disgusted by flies. I wonder if Honey Bees are attracted to Pitcher Plants?

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

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  14. Hope you & Emma have a great and Happy Easter, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  15. The pitchers look like some blown glass that I've seen. They are beautiful!

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  16. You lie down on the bed and squirt the Redi-Whip into your open mouth, That way nothing leaks out! Don't let any flies crawl in there, though. Yak!

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  17. Jerry and Suzy have it right...lying on the bed would allow maximum access....plus you could just nod off into a "sugar coma" immediately afterward...
    In the words of my grandkids.."YOUR PHOTOS ARE THE BOMB!!!!"

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  18. When you try the whip cream blast, lets have some pictures :))

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  19. Beautiful photos of the pitchers ... glad you went out to find them.

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  20. I have NEVER seen such beautiful plants...I am impressed with your photography skills -- as usual:) Laying on the bed & squirting Redi-whip in the mouth is an excellent idea and if you could sneak in some fresh strawberries, that would be even better!

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  21. I saw those plants for the first time recently at a nursery in Woodinville, WA called Molbak's. I think they're fascinating looking and the pictures with the fly are great, but all your pictures are great.

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  22. Great photos of the plants and one luck fly.

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  23. Fascination blog as always. I've missed something though, how are the dark chocolate pecan clusters going to help your stiff neck? Just asking...
    Jan

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  24. Beautimous!!!

    Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend anything that might get whipped cream in your sinuses!!! Just me...

    Hope you enjoy an awesome Easter!!!

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  25. Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Pitchers!!
    I never knew they came in so many colors!

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  26. Great photos today, they are fascinating plants (I always learn something here). I like the suggestion for laying down and squirting it in your mouth. If there's a will there's a way. That's what my mom always use to say!

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  27. Judy, those photos are just beautiful! I am amazed at the quality of pictures you get.

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