Another sundew:
Ah, Drosera capillaris! After I found this "cappy," I found
another, then another, then another. That's how it usually goes. This is a pretty little plant, isn't it? I carefully
examined the stipules and found it was consistent with Drosera capillaris. I didn't expect anything peculiar in
the stipules, but it's good to check the normal plants so you know what "normal" is.
While I worked with this plant, Beth ranged around the fields somewhere to the north and reported to me via
walkie talkie about what she was seeing. Apparently she was in a
big field of Sarracenia alata to the north of me. It sounded like she was having a good time, seeing neat stuff.
Just as I triggered the shutter for
this image, I heard a very strange, long DWOING, like a note plucked on a loose cello string. I looked
up and saw that the heavy power cables overhead were dropping down towards both me and the rental car, bouncing in the air
as they descended. I jumped up off my belly and darted to
the rental car, started it up and pulled it out from underneath the sagging power lines. My heart was pounding, as I had no
idea of how much further the cables would drop, or even if they were live. With eyes as big as pingpong balls, I looked
off to the utility workers in the distance; I could see a few of them giving me a casual friendly wave (no doubt while
grinning), I suppose to say, "Oh by the way, we cut the cables, OK?"
The wires, now almost low enough to touch, shuddered now and again like a
giant Ray-Harryhausen-nine-headed-hydra in its death throes.
I decided a safer playground was preferable, so I gathered my gear and headed north to see what Beth had
found.
