Feed Me!!

Darlingtonia californica, carniverous plants found in the bogs of Northern California and Southern Oregon. There is a little wayside area off the highway with a wooden boardwalk trail into the bog, where there are hundreds and hundreds of these fascinating plants just growing there in the woods. Insects are lured by the nectar on the forked petal-like appendage. They become confused by the light and dark patterns inside the cobra head--I imagine it's like being lost in a giant stained glass dome. Then they are hopelessly trapped in the lower tube and fall into a pool of digestive juices!

What absolutely knocked me out is that this little outing was right there by the highway and we'd never noticed it on previous trips. I was prepared to maybe see one or two plants, and when we came into the clearing I just gasped at the sight of a whole meadow of bowed green lethal heads.

On again off again rain, fog, sun throughout the day, and a most delicious plate of fried oysters for lunch in Florence.