Why not enjoy a weekend by collecting some folks that like to explore and take a walk on a lake shore fen. In Northeastern Minnesota, this location might be referred to as a lakeshore, wetland, floating bog, marsh, swamp, or peatland. Each of those labels or others could more accurately be determined by identifying the plants growing there, testing the waters acidity in at various locations, and examining various locations around the lake.
Knowing the water levels, flow, acidity and plants suggest that this area is not as acidic as a bog but more acidic than a marsh. Even more specifically, the area explored seemed to fit the characteristics of a “rich fen” as opposed to a “poor fen”.
The sphagnum and sedges and leatherleaf that comprised most of the surface made walking slow and balance challenging. Everything growing there is interesting and specialized for life in the existing conditions. Traveling slow with several people enabled location and identification of plants and animals. The cool breeze and proper preparation made the day perfect conditions free of heat and biting insects.
Round-leaved sundew and purple pitcher plants are referred to as carnivorous or insectivorous as they trap insects to get the nitrogen needed for growth. Orchids are slow to reproduce and take years of growth in the sphagnum before getting to the right stage and conditions to flower. Bog birch, tamarack and black spruce take years to grow, and most are under head height. Many flowering and fruiting plants, including buck bean, small cranberry, Labrador tea, bog rosemary, swamp cinquefoil, and bog laurel are abundant on the floating mat on the water and peat below.
Thanks go out the participants who led to the discovering and the resulting photos. There will be several more outings to different forest and wetland sites by the Ely Field Naturalists this summer. To join this Google group email [email protected]
