The Trip:
A September 2003
business trip took me from California to Arlington, Virginia.
Well heck, that is just about seven hours away from Venus Flytrap
habitat. I hadn't seen those in the wild since around 1993!
But wait, it is also only about seven hours away from
Sarracenia jonesii and Sarracenia oreophila, and I had
never seen those in North Carolina. Which to go to? How about both?! Yeah, baby,
yeah!
I contacted a land manager who helps steward the rare Sarracenia
sites, and she gave me permission to visit the plants. So with
my "travel visa" in hand, I was set!
(How did I get so lucky? She knows the conservation work I do, and felt
she could trust me at those sites.)
Next, I reviewed my three sources of
information on where to look for Venus Flytraps: I had my notes from
my previous trip; I had some
instructions from another plant explorer (thanks, E.S.); and I had
been contacted by a coastal North Carolina native who told me he would
show me around. Excellent!
Disclaimer: I will not
reveal any location information on this trip, except in the broadest
of terms. Poaching is already bad
enough, without me spouting off location factoids for plant
thieves to use.
Start the photo-essay!
