The Lake...
In keeping with my FAQ
guidelines, I will not reveal the name of this small lake. However, most
Californian carnivorous plant growers know the place, so my omitting this
factoid is a little silly. But anyway...
This lake is most amazing, and is no doubt the best carnivorous plant area
in the Lassen area. What looks like a flat plain of grass filling most of the photograph above
is actually a floating mass of vegetation--Sphagnum and other
plants. Walk on it, and it feels like a
huge waterbed. This is a marvelous example of a
"false lake bottom."
The mats spread particularly broadly along the lake's
north and south banks, and they provide great habitat for carnivorous
plants, especially sundews. A few species of Utricularia
that like shallow water also thrive in soggy
depressions in the mat. The lake also has very
deep water, suitable for free-floating, suspended U. macrorhiza.
The birding is good, too, as you might expect, with interesting and
beautiful warblers and tanagers. And after a long day of exploring, you
can swim in the lake (if it is not too cold), fish (if that is your deal),
and then set up your tent in the lakeside campground (if it looks like the
neighbors are not going to be too obnoxious).
This is bear country, so be careful about leaving food around. Also, do not
collect the plants. This place gets a lot of traffic, and the lighter the
footprint you make, the better! In fact, if you are happy with surveying
the mat from a canoe or spotting scope, that is best of all!
