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Post by lbrian on Jun 23, 2016 13:12:37 GMT -5
An Australian friend is visiting my cottage in July and so I bought a seasonal pass to Algonquin Park to explore the many trails. I was excited to try out the Spruce Bog Trail but as I read the guide I was crestfallen to read the entry on S. Purpurae. It seems you will see none there since they have all been picked by inconsiderate trail users. There should be a sign there that explains that they are difficult to grow, but if you want to try to build a backyard bog info is available at the OCPS website. It should further give the addies of reputable sources that propagate the plants for sale on-line. And in return, maybe a crowd-seeding drive could be started. It could be matched by seeds from the advertised reputable growers and the seeds donated to Algonquin Park staff to re-introduce to suitable areas. Just a thot.
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Post by porcorosso on Jun 23, 2016 17:22:25 GMT -5
that is sad to hear....
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Post by lloyd on Jun 23, 2016 19:02:57 GMT -5
Probably every poached plant died.
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Post by danyoh on Jun 23, 2016 20:31:42 GMT -5
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Post by RuBisCO on Jun 23, 2016 23:07:19 GMT -5
I would hope that there are some plants off the beaten path? Terrible that all could be cleared. I am not familiar with the site at all unfortunately.
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Post by mackthompson on Jun 24, 2016 8:12:54 GMT -5
I was planning on going there later this summer. That's sad
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Post by lbrian on Jun 25, 2016 11:03:56 GMT -5
I am not at all worried about the survival of the species. I am sure many more are hidden away off-trail, and good thing they didn't mention the sundews! I have a bunch growing along my cottage shoreline that I acquired properly through OCPS members and Keene's Carnivores (are they still around?). But it is really a sad thing to have to tell visitors from as far away as Australia. So I thought it would be cool if each year park staff could be provided with a handful of seeds to plant along the trail and in return they would put up a sign telling people that uprooted plants will die, but here are websites to buy ethical purps and here is a site where to learn to build a bog garden. Hell, I would pony up a little cash for that!
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Post by lbrian on Jul 10, 2016 15:42:42 GMT -5
@macthompson: Go there! It is fantastic. While I am not sure I should post specifics on a public forum, along some other trails I did see vast bogs of purps, many sundews and I think a bladderwort flower poking up. The bog trail is still well worth hiking. There is a really cool bog formed from a 7000 year old lake created by a beaver dam. The guidebook explains the whole process, After that is the kettle lake bog where the guide does mention CPs. (Which is why people thot that "that is sooo cool" and dug up plants to stuff in their pockets and plant in their clay Mississauga gardens where they immediately died). Please take your time to enjoy the bog. There was one last lonely pitcher poking up and if you bring binoculars you may see more in the distance. The mosses are beautiful with sparkling red carpets to see . Please keep in mind that being a kettle lake bog, under the apparently solid surface is a 9m deep kettle lake where the acidity and lack of oxygen will preserve the bodies of filchers for posterity. The trail is flat and easy for this tour. Stay on the boardwalk. If any noobs read this and get any ideas, just because you can't find purps at the MalWort garden centre between petunias and tomatoes, you don't have to risk your life by poaching. Search this site for how to build a bog garden THEN order online from reputable vendors for your experiments. In closing, I still think someone should contact Friends of Algonquin Park and suggest the trail guide include the how-to info. I think we could attract many new hobbyists and deter poachers. And I would be willing to fund a few seeds a year for the Friends of Algonquin Park to sow along the Kettle Lake boardwalk to promote the hobby. My Aussie friend? She took pics, but I think she was more excited to see a moose. Cheers
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Post by eric on Aug 20, 2016 8:14:57 GMT -5
Too bad that all plants along the trail may have been poached. But planting seed from reputable vendors is not the right answer. First of all this does not stop the poaching. You could just as well offer the seed or plants to the visitors directly instead . Then I see no good in bringing in bought or donated seed of pitcher plants. Those seed may well have their origin in New Jersey, Nova Scotia or MalWort. In fact doing so may add to the problem e.g. by bringing in weeds or diseases that have not been there before. As long as there are plenty of native pitcher plants growing off the trail, the only good source of seed would be seed of wild plants nearbye collected with official permit. It would be a better idea to have a small patch planted with typical bog plants near an information centre. I've seen this in a few places already. Anyway, educating people and telling them where to get those plants legally would be a good initiative.
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