Our visit to Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park would have never happened without a chat with the helpful park ranger at Big Lagoon State Park. She mentioned that we could see wild orchids and pitcher plants just a couple of miles away, and we jumped at the chance!
This park is pretty simple. No camping here, and no concession. You’ll find a parking lot, an honor system payment box, a composting toilet, a picnic table, a boardwalk, and nature trails through the wet prairie ecosystem. At the end of the boardwalk is a beautiful view of Tarkiln Bayou, which ultimately empties into Perdido Bay. As beautiful as it is, the Bayou itself does not hold a candle to the plants that make their home here. This park is home to four different species of carnivorous pitcher plants, and we also noticed two species of Drocera (another carnivore, the Sundew plant).
Finding my first Sundew a few years ago at Hontoon Island was the previous peak of my botanical experience. Steve will tell you that I was thrilled, and my excitement only increased when the park used one of my photos on their website. We have taken friends to Hontoon to allow them to find the Sundew, and it is always a thrill to find these tiny plants again. Our afternoon at Tarkiln completely eclipsed the Hontoon experience. We saw native White Pitcher Plant, with not only the specialized leaf that lures insects to their deaths, but also their spectacular flowers – previously I did not even realize this plant had a bloom!
We saw Threadleaf Sundew (Drosera filiformis) and Dwarf Sundew ( Drosera brevifolia).
We saw Snakemouth Orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides). That pink fringe is so pretty!
For just a moment, we even shared the boardwalk with a snake. It was shy and soon dropped over the side.
Before we return to Tarkiln, I’ll be researching the rare and endangered plants that can be found here. I’d hate to miss something incredible just because I didn’t know it was there!
It was a surprisingly pleasant adventure. The park ranger was accurate as to what we would see and where. I wish everyone could have seen the look on Pam’s face when she actually saw those plants, it was amazing.
Yep, without the ranger we never would have known! And we’ve had other adventures based on what we saw and learned there, so I’d say it was a phenomenal day! Glad you were with me. 🙂