This morning we engaged in our usual,\nrather sluggish start before jumping into the truck for a short drive\nto Darlingtonia Wayside located about 5 miles north of Florence.\nDespite what it sounds like, Darlingtonia is not a NASCAR track or a\ncity in West Virginia. Darlingtonia is scientific-speak for a pitcher\nplant, also called a cobra lily. It is a strange looking plant that\ngrows in boggy areas but it has a weakness \u2013 it needs certain\nnutrients that can’t be obtained from the bog so it has evolved a\nunique strategy. It captures, kills, dissolves and absorbs bugs\nthrough clever characteristics involving smell, vision and stupidity\non the part of the bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tNot being bug fans, Peggy and I can\ntruly appreciate any form of life that devours bugs so they can’t\ndevour us. We noted that, as we strolled the short trail from parking\nto viewing, there were plentiful flying, squirming and crawling\ninsects. However, once we got on the wood walkway and viewing deck\nsurrounded by the Darlingtonia, there were no bugs. I grin every time\nI think about the nasty creatures that formerly occupied the airspace\nand ground around these plants. I hope they died slowly. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tAfter finishing up there, we took a\nspin around nearby Mercer Lake where some fortunate Oregonians have\nnice houses overlooking the cedar-lined pond. I drove Peggy to a\nquilting store and sent her inside but she took mercy on me and was\nonly in there for about 5 minutes. We also went to a place called\nB.J.’s 48 Flavors Ice Cream where some strange things happened. Peg\nordered some of their homemade Jamocha Almond Fudge and was quickly\nserved with a small cup of some stuff she described as \u201cLysol\nflavored\u201d and with one almond that could not be cracked by\nexpensive dental work or a claw hammer. I tried to get some regular\nold chocolate ice cream but the girl behind the counter told me that\ntoday, as it turned out, they only had 47 flavors. We were not\noverwhelmed with our success. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We fueled the truck on our way back to South Jetty and our traveling home because tomorrow we will sod off and continue our northward trek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See the weird plants. Click the link. https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/QgHQjXZGygKtRA4H7<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This morning we engaged in our usual, rather sluggish start before jumping into the truck for a short drive to Darlingtonia Wayside located about 5 miles north of Florence. Despite what it sounds like, Darlingtonia is not a NASCAR track … Continue reading