More leaflets:
Hmmm. Now look at these terminal leaflets--these are short, just like on Utricularia macrorhiza!
It doesn't seem to me that this "terminal leaflet" feature is reliable.
With this photograph, I felt my work at this pond was done. I had taken the photographs I wanted, and had made a small set of
collections for future observation and herbarium study. The preserve manager had given me leave to explore the rest of the
pond if I had to, but my Utricularia studies were essentially complete without having to leave my (once again sinking)
wooden platform. But thanks again, Karen L!
The next part of my itinerary was to drive to Rhode Island, to try to find that bog that had eluded me and Beth on our
previous attempt. This time, I would have a guide familiar with the site--none other than
John Phillip, Jr., from the New England Carnivorous Plant Society.
We exchanged greetings at a site near the elusive bog, and John drove us to the trailhead. On the way, he told me about
the great activities that the NECPS has been doing. It is a young but very vibrant, active society, involved
in most excellent programs. He even gave me a cool-o NECPS mug! Ooh ooh!
We started along the trail, and almost immediately took a hidden turn off the path to emerge into a big rocky slab that
provided an excellent cliffside overlook to the bog a few hundred feet below. I was chagrined that Beth and I had gotten so close! It was a very pretty
spot, although John said the trees had grown up so the view was not quite so nice as it had been in the past. John told me
that, heh heh, he used to come here in regular pursuit of osculatory exercises with certain females. It did indeed
look like an excellent make-out site. Yet another reason to rue that Beth and I had not found this place!
Next on the menu was getting down to the bog. We could not travel down the steep slope, so we returned to the trail.
It was a simple five
minute walk along the path to another hidden turnoff to the bog. Unfortunately, this had also grown over and
John missed it--so we ended up pushing our way over ridges and through thick undergrowth for about 40 minutes before he
finally guided us to the site. But in the end, we did get there! (And I felt a little better about having failed on the first
attempt to find the site with Beth.)
