Tag Archives: Del Norte

Darlingtonia 2014

A few weeks ago Mike Wang and I visited various Darlingtonia sites in Curry Co., OR and Del Norte Co., CA. As always – I am truly thankful that I got a chance to roll with Mike again. It was truly an unforgettable experience. It was pretty much a year since we last visited Darlingtonia country. (Here’s a post to day one and day two from last year!)

We had to do some hiking to get to some of these sites. The trails (and LACK of trails) were quite steep and rugged in some places. Finding the Darlingtonia in these remote regions was definitely not easy, but the grueling trek felt like a very small price to pay to be able to witness the plants growing in their natural habitat. Oh and the scenery? <Insert expletives here.> OMG. Ridiculously good. Melt-your-face-off mind-blowingly beautiful.

I can’t adequately put into words just how outlandishly magnificent this experience was so I’ll stop trying and let you see for yourself. I strung together a few video clips and created some photo slideshows that are sorted by day below. There’s also a few highlight snapshots underneath all that. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, and if you haven’t already done so – please be sure to check out Mike’s posts of our Darlingtonia 2014 excursion  here, here, here and here!

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Darlingtonia Video
9-11 Oct 2014

Various sites in Curry Co., OR and Del Norte Co., CA


Day 1 – 9 Oct 2014 Photo Slideshow
Curry Co., OR


Day 2 – 10 Oct 2014 Photo Slideshow
Curry Co., OR


Day 3 – 11 Oct 2014 Photo Slideshow
Del Norte Co., CA

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A few highlight photos follow below. To see all the photos from this Darlingtonia excursion, please view the photo slideshows above!
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Darlingtonia Excursion 2014It’s pre 6am. I need to start this day off right. I need to start this trip off right.
It’s all about that PHILZ COFFEE! 

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
The first patch of Darlingtonia that we stumbled across!
FCS Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
The Wangster and I – FCS Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Seedlings growing out of the water. FCS Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
FCS Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Above the fog at sunset. Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Fueling up before the gnarly hike.
The ravenous Mike Wang in action!

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Rugged and beautiful. Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
So scenic. That’s Mike in the photo to give you a sense of scale. Here we are hiking around looking for the Mountain Valley Meadow site.
Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Valley Meadow site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Valley Meadow Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Valley Meadow Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Valley Meadow Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Summit – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Haunting beauty. Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Some timelapse iPhoneography happening here.
An iPhone Gorillapod comes in handy.

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Trailside Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Creek Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Creek Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mountain Creek Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Roadside Site – Curry Co., OR

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Sphagnum.
Sphagnum Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Darlingtonia growing in sphagnum.
Sphagnum Site – Del Norte Co., CA.

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Skeleton.
Sphagnum Site –  Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Darlingtonia seed Pod.
Sphagnum Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Red.
Alpine Farms – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Alpine Farms – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Alpine Farms – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Alpine Farms – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Seedlings! 
Alpine Farms – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014Goldmine Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Pinguicula macroceras growing vertically on a rock face!
Goldmine Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Goldmine Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Mike admires the Darlingtonia growing vertically on the rock face.
Goldmine Site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Young plant/seedling growing next to charred piece of wood.
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Brilliant yellow.
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Check the mustache out on this bad boy.
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014
Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014Site 734 – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Excursion 2014Left: My preferred footwear – hiking boots.
Right: Mike’s preferred footwear – CROCS.
My mind can not compute how hardcore Mike is to be able to even hike in friquen’ Crocs… CROCS! Seriously. Now that dude is a beast.

Thanks again for everything, Mike!

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 2

Another day of Darlingtonia goodness with my good carni-bro Mike Wang! (You can see the video and photos from day 1 in this previous post .) Without further ado I present to you a few video clips and photos from day 2 of the Darlingtonia expedition. Photos and video from 12 Oct 2013. Enjoy!


Click here for the full screen slideshow

Some highlights of day 2 below…

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 2
Click here to view large version of roadside view. 

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 2
Click here to view large version of the Darlingtonia wall.

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – roadside site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – roadside site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
This marker marks the border. To the right is Oregon, to the left is California.

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Mike and I at the BWS Site. Del Norte Co., CA.

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2Darlingtonia californica – BWS site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica flower pod – BWS site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
BWS site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
BWS site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
BWS site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Cedar Springs site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Cedar Springs site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Cedar Springs site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Cedar Springs site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 2
Click here to view large version of Cedar Springs Site – Del Norte, Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Mike Wang at The Ponds site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – The Ponds site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
On the road in search of the next Darlingtonia destination.

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
In search of Darlingtonia. Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Mike in situ.

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Darlingtonia californica – Site 734, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 2
Click here to view large version of  this view.
Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2Sunset. Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia 2013: Day 2
Moonlight lit coastline. Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1Back on 11 October 2013, I had the privilege of being able to check out some Darlingtonia growing in situ with fellow carnie-bro, Mike Wang. (By the way – if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to stop by the Sarracenia forum and take a look Mike’s amazing photos in his Darlingtonia posts!) As I mentioned in my last post, this would be the first time I ever saw carnivorous plants growing in their natural habitat. Hey, better late than never right? It was a phenomenal experience. Now I have an even deeper appreciation for these magnificent plants. I can’t say enough about what I saw and experienced during this trip. The overstimulation of seeing these majestic plants growing at all the various sites was pure botanical overload. And yes, I savored every second of it. We only had a few short hours of sunlight to explore by on our first day up there. By the time we arrived it was already late afternoon. We tried to see as much as we could and make the most of the fading light. It turned out to be great timing – the lighting at this time of day hit the plants in such a way to give them an otherworldly glow. Here’s a video and a few photos capturing moments from day one of this fantastic Darlingtonia excursion. Stay tuned – video and photos from day 2 to follow!



Click here for the full screen slideshow.

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Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Road trip cuisine at it’s finest.
Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the road.

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Oh joy, oh rapture! The first clump of Darlingtonia I saw growing in situ!
Darlingtonia californica – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Darlingtonia californica – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1Shooting Darlingtonia – Forest marsh site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Darlingtonia californica – Forest marsh site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Darlingtonia californica – Forest marsh site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Mike admires the scenery.
Forest marsh site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Darlingtonia californica – Forest marsh site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Mike and I at the forest marsh site, Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Alpine Farms site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Mike doin’ his thing.
Alpine Farms site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Alpine Farms site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Alpine Farms site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Alpine Farms site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1
Roadside site – Del Norte Co., CA

Darlingtonia Trip 2013: Day 1We were in the Alpine Farms area a little bit after sundown and stopped for a few mins. I took the opportunity to do some light painting using the flashlight on my iPhone.

Darlingtonia: Love at First Site

Last weekend, carnie-bro Mike Wang and I went on an epic trip to see Darlingtonia growing in their natural habitat. Ironically, this would be my very first time seeing carnivorous plants in situ. Hey, better late then never, right? Anyway, in the past eight or nine years of me consistently growing carnivorous plants, I’ve only known and witnessed them in cultivation. Seeing their habitat and the way they grow there gives me a greater appreciation for these fantastic plants.

Below are a couple shots of the first clump of Darlingtonia that I saw growing in situ. It felt like my mind blew a gasket seeing just this one clump! It really was love at first sight. At this first site. After seeing this, I told Mike that I felt as if my trip was already complete. Little did I know what was in store in those hours ahead. Needless to say, I took “quite a few” photos and videos. Sorry for the delay, but it has been quite a week for me. I’m catching up with a few other projects and I’m just starting to get to this Darlingtonia project now. I’ll be sorting through the photos and videos so please stay tuned for more Darlingtonia goodness!

If you want to see some of Mike’s photos, check out his Darlingtonia posts over on the Sarracenia forum!

Darlingtonia californiaDarlingtonia californica growing off the side of a road in an almost vertical fashion.
Del Norte Co., CA.

Darlingtonia
Darlingtonia californica – Del Norte Co., CA.