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The Gulf coast of Florida from Pensacola to Panama City is under attack by development at an alarming rate. One of the best if not THE best Sarracenia flava bogs I have ever found and explored was just off Highway 98 in Miramar Beach near Destin, Florida. It originally covered about 10 acres when
I first spotted the dense healthy population of bright yellow green and red veined pitchers in early 1997. A portion of the bog was regularly mowed
and this proved to be beneficial. For Sale signs were posted by each parcel. In late 1999 80% of the bog was bulldozed and red fill dirt brought in. Now gone are many thousands of pitcher plants including some of the largest S. psittacina I have ever seen,
3-4 inch diameter Drosera capillaris countless Pinguicula lutea thread-leaf sundews and many other species including orchids. A section remained undeveloped but up for sale for over two years. I contacted the owner and obtained permission to remove plants. Fortunately, the USF Botanical Garden at Tampa was looking to expand their carnivorous plant display. Communication with the director, Brad Carter and the land owner occured and soon a truck load of rescued plants were on their way to Tampa Bay. More plants were moved to other locations and to CP enthusiasts. that last parcel eventually sold about 2003 and is now a restaurant.
I visited the USF Tampa gardens in spring of 2002 and unfortunately due to budget cuts, Brad was gone and the plant displays were showing signs of neglect. And that's the way it is. Destruction of the now rare and dwindling bog scene continues. I had not visited the bog in a couple years and a check in March 2007 resulted in a rather disapointing although expected observation. No carnivorous plants of any kind could be found even on the undeveloped power line right-of-way, which is the center of all the photos below, that cuts through this now built up area. Only trash, polluted parking lot run-off water and a few tough, scraggly St. John's Wort are all that remains. As of spring 2008 a few pitcher plants and sundews were found in a wooded area to the far east of the once spectacular site that may or may not survive. No controlled burning occurs here, overgrowth must be removed mechanically. Water tables have lowered due to drainage ditches and to excessive pumping of ground water for area lawns. What water that still collects in the lowest areas is getting much road and parking lot runoff. Polluted with oil and all else that spills on the asphalt. It took almost 10 years for this bog to dissapear. Other areas may go much quicker. |
The west section of the bog as it looked in March, 1997.
This picture taken from the same spot on March 12, 2000.
Same location again. March 23, 2003.
The section of bog on the left avoided development up until early 2003. It is now a restaurant.
Same spot, September 2008. Small yellow Utricularia have colonized the standing water in the drainage area.
Fill dirt was brought in late 1999. A single doomed pitcher plant struggles for survival. March 2000.
This area under construction in 2000 is now a busy furniture store.
View from about the same point as above. May 26, 2003.
My son Andrew, and the last photos taken of Sarracenia flava at this declining habitat. March 2003.
