Purdon Conservation Area

Purdon Conservation Area
June 19, 2005

This site is home to a spectacular colony of showy lady's slipper orchids. The orchid bloom itself does not attract bees or other insects because it does not contain nectar. the orchids must rely on investigative instincts of bees and on the accidental entry of insects into the flower for pollination. consequently, a very small percentage of the flowers are pollinated.

history of the conservation area:
mr. purdon, the original owner, wanted to ensure that the wetlands would be enjoyed by future generations. with this same goal mississippi valley conservation acquired the site in 1984. a scientific study determined that the small original group of orchids had grown to a staggering 16,000 plants.

early conservation:
purdon conservation area was once part of the property of the late joe purdon. in the 1930s, mr. purdon discovered a group of about a dozen show lady's slipper orchids. he managed the area to sustain the orchids by thinning the brush, maintaining appropriate water levels and hand pollinating the plants.

after a bit of a drive... we arrive

mushroom

as you can see, samantha is quite excited about our outing

poison ivy
in eastern ontario, the plants are low, spreading by stolons, much like strawberries

marsh fern
an abundant species of bogs and fens across canada.

highbush cranberry
an occasional to rare shrub of wet areas, swamps and fen wetlands from newfoundland to b.c. it's white flat-topped clusters of flowers appear in late june and early july and provide pollen and nectar food for native pollinating insects. its red, acidic, but edible berries are sought after by some winter birds.

bog wintergreen
widely distributed across north america in bogs, cool temperate forests and western mountains

twinflower
this, smallest member of the honeysuckle family, is commonly in boreal forests of north america and eurasia

twinflower

sphagnum moss
the dominant moss of bogs, fens and peatlands of the northern hemisphere.
the species of sphagnum form extensive peat deposits

bunchberries

tufted loosestrife
this colourful plant is found in swamps and fens of temperate North America and Eurasia. flowers commonly have six (rather than 5) petals

bog bedstraw
very rare in all eastern ontario this tiny-flowered plant is found only in a few fens and bogs
notice the tiny white flowers, each with flour petals

pitcher plant
a carnivorous plant.

pitcher plant

pitcher plant
note the hollow leaves filled with rainwater. the water contains an insect-digesting enzyme. smooth hairs at the entrance to the leaf prevent insects from escaping once they venture inside. common in bogs and fens across the northern hemisphere.

blue flag iris
(sorry... it's the best photo we had)

slender cotton-grass
this grass-like plant is actually a member of the sedge family. the numerous long, silky bristles give its fruit clusters the appearance of soft cotton. this species is found in bogs, fens and peatlands across the boreal regions of north america and euraia