Landscapes,  Plants,  Walks,  Woods

Revisiting Ferd’s Bog

Lucy, our trusty hiking companion, urges us on
Lucy, our trusty hiking companion, urges us on

One of the places I love to visit in the Adirondacks is Ferd’s Bog, a 50-acre tract of boreal forest surrounding a black spruce bog. I first visited it in 2011, and the bog was filled with pitcher plants; I posted a picture of them here, at my other blog. I haven’t seen the pitcher plants for the last three years, though, and I suspect that people may be venturing off the boardwalk (judging from the many trampled trails I saw into the grasses) and taking them. It’s both foolish (since they won’t grow anywhere else — they grow in the bog because it’s acidic) and selfish (since it alters the ecosystem, prevents others from experiencing it, and even breaks the law by taking plants from a protected area). I hate to sound so negative, but it’s sad to see. I’m not sure whether the process can be reversed or not.

Nevertheless, the walk through the woods into the bog retains its primeval character. There are apparently many interesting birds that inhabit the area, but I haven’t seen any of them: gray jays, boreal chickadees, black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers, for example. But the many plants, trees and mosses always grab my attention and make the walk seem magical.

Here are a few pics from my most recent foray in.

Trail
Trail
Lichen
Lichen
You descend into the bog -- and climb back out
You descend into the bog — and climb back out
A stump beautifully furred with mosses
A stump beautifully furred with mosses
Wood between the worlds
Wood between the worlds
Boardwalk into the open bog
Boardwalk into the open bog
Micro-world
Micro-world
Creeping snowberry
Creeping snowberry
Stump host for all kinds of plants
Stump host for all kinds of plants

 

Open bog -- the black flecks are dragonflies. The air was thick with them.
Open bog — the black flecks are dragonflies. The air was thick with them.
Quietness -- no sound but a single white-throated sparrow
Quietness — no sound but a single white-throated sparrow
Big sky country
Big sky country
Boardwalk leading back into the woods
Boardwalk leading back into the woods
Follow the yellow -- er, white -- brick road
Follow the yellow — er, white — brick road
The trail back out
The trail back out
Red toadstool
Red toadstool
A tree bearded with mosses
A tree bearded with mosses
Red berries -- not sure what kind
Red berries — not sure what kind

IMG_0474

IMG_0476

Polished roots
Polished roots
Evergreens
Evergreens
Baby evergreens
Baby evergreens
Log overtaken with other plants
Log overtaken with other plants
Decomposition
Decomposition

IMG_0494

Woodland benediction
Woodland benediction

Some pics of Ferd’s Bog from last year are included here. Some from the year before are here.

3 Comments

  • Valerie

    Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures. I am recovering from breast cancer and your photos really brighten my day. Keep em coming

  • DebD

    This reminds me of one of my favorite places to visit… Dolly Sods Wilderness in WV. Unfortunately, mine is a 3.5 hr drive to get there. The photos are very beautiful… I’m glad you shared them with us. Too bad about the pitcher plants. It’s very disappointing if people are taking them.