 06-22-2007, 7:46 PM
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FlowerPower
Joined on 03-08-2005
The Woodlands, Texas
Posts 137
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In search of wild orchids
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Rich planted a seed of an idea so Thursday, 6/21/07, I got up early and headed for Beaumont, Texas to see if their botanical garden had recovered from hurricane Rita? Sad to report, it has not! The grounds are in rough shape but I still managed to get in a few nice shots. And there are very few wildflowers along the way. I took US69 north to the Big Thicket visitors’ center just past Kontze. There are several interesting displays and a lot of good (free) information about the preserve here. One thing I learned was that the wild orchids and carnivorous plants bloom in April so I didn’t expect too much. Back on US69 I headed north to the Sundew trail parking area. I walked the inner loop and things were pretty dry and photo ops few and far between. Near the end of the trail there was a nice pitcher plant bog. I should have gone left instead of right on the inner loop and I would have saved a long walk. I got back on US69 and headed north again into Warren where I took a right (east) on FM 1493 for about five miles past Turkey Creek and turned right on the dirt road marked Pitcher Plant trail. Almost immediately on the right side of the road I spotted a few wild orchids. Then a little further on I found another group of about a dozen orchids in bloom also on the right side of the road. They were all the same small purple variety. After shooting some photos I continued to the Pitcher Plant trail parking area. A short easy walk down to the boardwalk brought me to a bog of thousands of pitcher plants. Needless to say I’ll be back next spring. It was so hot and humid that I had trouble telling when the lens was properly focused due to sweat running onto my glasses and into my eyes. Thank goodness for “AF”. And even though I had sprayed with “Off” the flies were still frisky and biting. The road sides near the Big Thicket preserve were nicely covered with fire wheels, Mexican hats and yellow daisies but so many of the trees seemed badly damaged by web worms. I will add more photos as I get them processed but here is the link to the ones that are up now: http://grigsbys.smugmug.com/gallery/3043140 Murry
Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!
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