All around Oregon you can find special places to embrace the outdoors. There are many wonderful botanical gardens and natural sites to explore. Today, we are going to check out the Darlingtonia State Natural Site at Florence, Oregon.
Located just off Oregon's Highway 101 at Florence, Oregon you will discover the magical Darlingtonia State Natural Site. While exploring and learning more about the park, we found out that the park is named after a beautiful plant, the Darlingtonia Californica is also known as the Cobra Lily.
This rare, strangely-shaped plant is the only member of the pitcher plant family (Sarraceniaceae) in Oregon.
The land was purchased between 1946 and 1964 for Darlingtonia State Park. This park is primarily 18.38 acres of bogland. The park is dedicated to protecting and preserving these rare Darlingtonia carnivorous plants for all to enjoy.
Every spring you can view these carnivorous plants start blooming, and they will bloom into the early summer.
These plants grow 10 to 20 inches tall and provide nectar hidden in small openings of the plant and attract insects. The insects eventually drop into the lower part of the flower tube, where the insect becomes trapped by downward-pointed hairs. Then the insect falls into a pool of water at the bottom of the stalk. The bacteria in the water decomposes the insect into nitrogen that is then absorbed by the plant.
The park has serpentine soils along with sphagnum fens rising from the wet sands of this area's coastal plains, and these Darlingtonia plants seem to thrive. These rare plants are a protected species and it is illegal for anyone to collect samples of this plant in Oregon.
If you find yourself visiting Florence, Oregon makes sure to stop and view the Darlingtonia Carnivorous species at the Darlingtonia State Natural Site. Near the parking area, there is a boardwalk and a small picnic area. In the surrounding area, you can enjoy rhododendrons, spruce, cedar, and shore pine trees.
Let us know if you would ever want to join us...
We do have fun in Oregon!
Office (503) 474-0762
Email us: sales@embraceoregon.com
Website: www.embraceoregon.com
Comments