October 20, 2024: Philbrick-Cricenti Bog

It's been over a decade since I wrote about the Philbrick-Cricenti kettle hole bog in New London, and it's time for an update.  The bog is just as beautiful as ever, and recently the New London Conservation Commission upgraded much of the boardwalk so it's now even more accessible. 

A quick refresher on the bog's history:  It started as a lake over 15,000 years ago when the continental ice sheet deposited a huge chunk of ice that sunk into the earth and created a pond as it melted.  150 years ago it was still a pond that people fished in, but today the pond is completely covered by a floating peat bog.  As you walk across the bog you are suspended above the hidden lake by the floating mat of moss.  There's a pole beside the boardwalk that you can pull up and see that the water below your feet is over ten feet deep.

Bogs have a unique natural community of plants that can survive in the highly acidic and nutrient-poor conditions in a bog.  One of the most interesting - and beautiful - is the Pitcher Plant.

Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant that attracts insects by sight and scent.  

Once an insect lands on its slippery cup it slides down past downward facing hairs into the bottom of the cup which contains water and the plant's digestive juices. 

Bye-bye bug.

I was also intrigued by these dead stalks sticking up out the bog.

I looked them up to identify them and found that they also are part of the Pitcher Plant - it's their seed pod.

A Pitcher Plant seed pod.

All that red throughout the bog is the thick layer of Sphagnum Moss that has formed over many years.  

Sphagnum Moss.

Some of it is grounded while much of it is floating on the pond.  Over time the moss will decay and eventually become peat.  

Sphagnum moss working its way towards peat.

Along the board walk we noticed a plant that looked like rosemary.

A rosemary lookalike.

Looking into this one I learned it's called Bog Rosemary though it's not related to the herb rosemary.  Bog Rosemary is in the heath family, and is in fact toxic, containing andromedotoxins which can cause breathing problems among other health issues.  

Plants in the heath-family are generally well suited to the acidic, low nutrient soils of bogs, and another heath plant abundant at the bog is Leatherleaf, which is also prevalent around Lake Wicwas.  Other plants found at both Wicwas and the Philbrick Bog include cranberry and blueberry.  Something Wicwas doesn't have is Tamarack which is a tree prevalent all around the Philbrick Bog.

Tamarack

Tamarack is considered a deciduous conifer, unusual in that it loses its needles in the fall which is why they are a nice yellow-green color right now.

Back at Lake Wicwas it's a quiet time of year.  We toured the lake yesterday on a gorgeous October day and saw no loons, herons, osprey, or eagles, just a dozen mallards enjoying a nice rest day on their trip south.  

It sure was a pretty day.

I hope you're able to enjoy this fine New England weather wherever you are!

October 13, 2013

Today's post starts with a different lake, or rather, what used to be a lake.  We took a drive over to the Lake Sunapee area for a hike up Sunset Hill in the John Hay Forest in Newbury.  (The Saint Gaudens National Park would have been on the agenda, but our fearless leaders in Washington have shut it down with the rest of government.)  We also took a walk through the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog in New London.

Philbrick-Cricenti Bog

The Philbrick-Cricenti Bog is a floating "kettle hole bog" that was created when a giant piece of glacial ice formed a depression, and eventually a lake.  As recently as 150 years, there was open water where people fished.  Today, the lake is completely covered with a mat of moss and sedge grass, which is thick enough that you actually walk - on a board walk - on top of the floating bog.  There are warnings that if you step off the boardwalk you may fall through the mat and into the lake - there are claims of remains of cows and horses under the surface.

Trees such as Black Spruce and Tamarack are even growing on it now.

Black Spruce Growing on the Bog

Tamarack

I really couldn't appreciate that there really was a lake below us until we came to the "peek hole".  Here is a long pole that you pull up out of the lake - it is over 20 feet deep!  In many places the boardwark rocks and splashes as you travel over the floating walkway.

Proof there's a Lake Underneath

The bog supports many plants unique to this type of environment, including Pitcher Plant and Cranberry.

Cranberries

Pitcher Plant

It was a very interesting area, but also a little disconcerting to think what can happen to a lake over just a few generations.

Thankfully, back on Lake Wicwas, you can't walk on the lake yet!   (Although, as the temperature continues to drop, soon enough we'll be walking on Lake Wicwas on a different surface....)  And the foliage is fabulous.  The maples are bright orange and red, and the east facing hills seen from Crockett's ledge are brilliant yellow.

South from Crockett's Ledge

Maples Reveal their True Colors

It appears that the fall migration has begun as well, with my first sighting of a Wood Duck since spring.

Mr. Wood Duck

And Mrs. Wood Duck

This should be just the first of many interesting birds that will visit Lake Wicwas over the next two months for a rest and a meal on their way to their winter homes.

Now, I'll apologize in advance for this next sighting, but remember, I didn't invent this, I'm just an observer!  This mushroom is known as a Stinkhorn - it is a member of the genus Phallus, named for an obvious reason. 

Stinkhorn  (genus Phallus)

The common name of "Stinkhorn" comes from the fact they emit the most horrendous odor, which actually has a reason related to reproduction:  the stench attracts flies which land on the top of the mushroom which has the spores needed to reproduce.  The spores stick to the flies' feet and are transported to other locations when the fly moves on.  It was working quite well today.

These fungi grow from an egg-like object, most often in areas with dead wood on the ground; one can be seen here just protruding from the peridium. 

They grow to full size in only a few hours, and live but a couple of days, so they have to attract insects fast!  Scientists do not know the reason for their odd shape....

One more note:  the local animals continue to enjoy the bounty of the fall harvest,

A Chipmunk's Dinner Table is our Front Step

as we do too!

With Apples from Arbutus Hill!