New River Day 6~ I want to live in the Glades

Howdee all,

Back to the..last day of~

New River Birding and Nature Festival

A short half day trip to the Glades…

Cranberry Glades, Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia

After and hour and a half drive..

The big blue bus parks and we get out to bird the road near the glades boardwalk.

“The Cranberry Glades is the largest area of bogs, or acidic wetlands, in West Virginia, a unique and exotic ecosystem on 750 acres. This spectacular and beautiful area was established by the United States Forest Service in 1965, to protect and preserve over 60 unique plant species, many of them descended from seeds that took root here over 10,000 years ago.”

“The Glade’s fascinating sphagnum bogs are similar to that found in “Muskegs” of the Artic Tundra. “

“The shallow roots so necessary for survival here do not adequately anchor trees against strong winds.  Thus, the very adaptation which allows these trees to live here can also cause their death.”

A boardwalk takes us the thru the Glade

A rare Orchid

Orchid…rareindeedus ~yeah sounds good

TrilliumFerns unfolding in love….. Ok I need some help here~

I thought this was Marsh Marigold

Then I see some have five petalsMarsh Marigold~five

This has six and looks a bit different..so..now I am not sure..Any help with ID is appreciated.

Water water everywhere…

Mountains in the distance

The Cranberry bog..

I used to pick cranberries as a teenager in a Cranberry Bog in CT.

Fond memories of fresh Cranberry muffins..made with Wheaties…the best darn muffins ever…and I cant find the recipe.

 

A cranberry left from last season

Pitcher plant

I am a bit obsessed with unfolding fern

And LichenA few more flowers of the Glades

Clearwing moth

We leave the Glades behind and head to the Visitor Center..

Overlook near the Center..

Cranberry Mountain Nature Center
Open April through November
304.653.4826

Perched on the edge of Cranberry Mountain in the Monongahela National Forest on Highway 39/55 is the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.  Operated by the USDA Forest Service, the Nature Center features live programs on birds of prey as well as poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes of West Virginia.

High on a mountain top~

I think of this song~

 

A few plants in the Woods near the Visitor Center

Trillium

Just outside the visitor center I noticed this nest.

Robins Nest

We did bird the area~Sorry about my lack of Bird photos…but my point and shoot couldn’t  reach them.

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This trip was much to short for us~

Jeff and I really liked this area and plan to return in the future and stay in a nearby campground.

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One more New River post left~~

Stay tuned for ~

The People