Seen in the Bog: Week of June 16, 2024
Seen in the Bog
When I walked the Volo Bog Interpretive Trail this warm Sunday morning, the vegetation around the boardwalk was thick and lush. Some of the ferns reached shoulder height. Flowers could be seen high and low.
A couple of the water arums along the boardwalk were still in bloom, but most were beginning to fruit.
The flower of a water arum... ...and its developing fruit.
The signs of interesting insects appeared on various bog plants. Many of the tall shrubs were sporting globs of what appeared to be spittlebug foam. At one point, I reached out to feel the soft tamarack needles, and I nearly put my hand in a cluster of small orange bugs.
Unidentified orange bugs Interpretive trail boardwalk Spittlebug "spittle"
At the eye of the bog, an egret was hunting around the edge. Some pickerelweed was blooming, though not the one closest to the boardwalk.
Seen Around the Bog
Several sandhill cranes and their gangly offspring were lurking near the visitor center.
It was a good day to see purple flowers! Lots of blue flag irises have popped up in the marsh. Some are quite close to the boardwalk. A few marsh skullcaps were also spotted.
Blue flag irises Marsh skullcap
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