Visiting the Darlingtonia Wayside

When Andrew proposed that we take a COVID-safe trip to the Oregon coast and mentioned going further south than we'd been before—maybe to Florence—my first thought was ...yes! Darlingtonia!

This small state park—just 18 acres—is the only Oregon state park property "dedicated to the protection of a single plant species. Concurrently, the plants it protects are the only carnivorous flora in the system." (source)

"Darlingtonia californica is a carnivorous plant native to Oregon and northern California’s few areas of boglands and meadows that have acidic soils with low nitrogen." (source)

The main event is just a short stroll across this bridge and through the trees...

Since I'd seen a few dozen skunk cabbage from the windows of the car, as we sped along the highways, it was nice to finally get a chance to snap a photo or two.

Ditto for the dear fern, Blechnum spicant.

I know skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is named for it's distinctive odor, but I was unable to smell a skunky smell.

Andrew for scale as we arrive at the boardwalk through/over the darlingtonia-scape...

And there they are!

Okay I won't lie. I really wanted to get down in there and clean things up. Yes it's true, I am a tidy gardener. All of those old bits need to be cleaned out so the newer bits could shine...

It was an impressive sight, so many in one place!

And the fact we could walk above them and not disturb was a nice thing.

The general wisdom is that in order to grow these plants successfully you need to not only meet their requirements for the proper soil acidity but that they need moving water, not river-type moving, but also not still.

Several years ago I was given a division of the Darlingtonia californica growing at Floramagoria, thankfully I didn't know then just how challenging these are to grow. Ignorance can be a blessing! I plopped them in a non-draining container and they've done well for me ever since. I think maybe the fact I top off the water level frequently during the summer, with a spray from the hose, must help. Acting almost like moving water?...