The Carnivorous Plant FAQ Field Trip Report -

The Whisperers in the Boglands

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Eshqua Bog, Vermont:
Unfortunately, I managed to oversleep my alarm, and slumbered for an additional two hours! Then, while driving into Vermont I became mesmerized by the amazing fall colours and opted to journey on more scenic side roads instead of the main highway. Oh, and I drove into New Hampshire since that was a "new state" for me. Oh, and I stopped off in Brattleboro in order to send my wife a gag postcard1. Oh, and then I got distracted when I saw a mink (the whole animal, not just a pelt) running through a field. Oh, and it turned out that the country road leading up the Eshqua Bog was much longer than I expected. The net result? I was not going to have time to see the other bog on my return towards Connecticut.

Alas, but that would not be so bad, would it? After all, Eshqua Bog is supposed to be very nice, so I would just spend my time there instead.

Well, you can see a typical view of the bog in this habitat photograph. Actually a fen, this site is quite small. Because of heavy traffic, visitors are restricted to a boardwalk. Apparently, the main attractions at the site are the native orchids that flower each spring. These were, of course, long past flowering. While you can see some nice Sphagnum in this photograph, the only carnivorous plants I saw on my entire reconnoitering of the site was one rather beaten up Sarracenia purpurea. It even had a big sign next to it, saying "Sarracenia purpurea/pitcher plant". My suspicion is that the plant was placed there for visitors. Another sign next to it indicated "Drosera rotundifolia/sundew", but try as I could, I was unable to find any plants. The hibernacula must have been hiding out of my view.

So it turns out that the trip to Eshqua bog was something of a dud, as far as carnivorous plants go. It might be a great place for orchids, but it does not hold much of interest for the monomaniacal carnivorous plant enthusiast. (This is why, in contrast with my usual FAQ-policy of not revealing site names--I do not mind providing this site's name on my web site--there is nothing for carnivorous plant poachers to take!)

1Posing, of course, as dread Fungi from Yuggoth. Beth got a kick out of the postcard, which has since been passed onto our friend, the High Priest P. D'Amato. Ask him to show it to you when you visit California Carnivores, he might still have it.

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Revised: October 2007
©Barry Rice, 2005