Carnivorous plants that digest insects and other small creatures are the highlight of bogs on Alabama’s Coastal Connection. The rich biodiversity of pitcher plant bogs bring together unique plants and animals on the Gulf Coast that are found nowhere else in the world.
Alabama’s Coastal Connection has not one, but two pitcher plants bogs to visit: the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog off of U.S. Highway 98 and Splinter Hill Bog near Perdido.
The Kurt G. Wintermeyer Nature Trail at Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog gives visitors boardwalk access to the flora and fauna at the bog.
Spring, summer or fall all offer a plethora of plant species including orchids and pitcher plants. Warm weather brings out butterflies, such as the Black Swallowtail and visitors may even see the eggs on the leaves and flowers of the Water Dropwort plant.
The Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog is part of the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. It is open weekly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. It is closed on Sunday and for state holidays, but the boardwalks remain open. For more information, contact the Weeks Bay Reserve at 251-928-9792. The Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog is part of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.
A little farther north in Baldwin County is the Splinter Hill Bog off of Baldwin County Road 47 in the Perdido community. The state of Alabama and the Nature Conservancy are working cooperatively to manage the bog. It was renamed the Ruth McClellan Abronski Splinter Hill Bog in 2014 to honor the Abronski family who donated their estate to benefit the Conservancy.
The bog, home to more than 12 species of carnivorous plants, including five species of pitcher plants; two species of butterworts and several species of sundews. Rare animals may also be seen including Bachman’s sparrow, Florida pine snake and gopher tortoise. Birds such as indigo buntings, prairie warblers, yellow-throated warblers and pine warblers have been observed in the spring and summer.
The preserve, which is open from dawn to dusk, includes portions of the headwaters of Dyas and Bushy creeks, tributaries of the Perdido River. The bog may be closed at times for controlled burns, an important part of the life of a bog. Wear long pants and use insect repellant.
For more information, go to: www.nature.org/alabama or www.facebook.com/thenatureconservancyinalabama or call 205-251-1155.
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