Re: VFT Resting / snakes / P. pumila

Thomas K. Hayes (tkhayes@pennet.net)
Fri, 26 Apr 1996 00:13:06 GMT

My observation on a recent post, nothing personal:

> In September of last year, I "saved" a whole case of terrible
>looking VFTs from the trash bin at a local Payless Drug Store. (They
>were trying to clear out all their plants to make room for Christmas
>trees.) Any way, the VFTs looked horrible - half black and very small. I

A dormant plant is supposed to look dead. What you did was put them through
a "propper" dormancy, not really "save" them from death. (granted they were
otherwise headed for a dumpster, so I guess you did save them in a matter of
speaking) :) Many people have trouble equating a plant's loosing leaves
with anything other than death. This is just a part of a natural cycle.
The onset of dormancy is usually frightening, not to mention depressing.
After all, most everything "looks" dead. But then Spring arrives, and for
those who have not thrown everything out in disgust, growth resumes.

**************************************************************************

On a completely unrelated matter:

for those of you out there planning a trip anywhere down south, use caution
when in the field. Having just returned from a trip down to NC, I can speak
from experience. I am still waiting on a positive ID from the pictures of
me holding it, but the snake I caught was 2 1/2 feet long and damn near put
a premature end to our trip. It was coiled and ready to strike, and in one
or two more steps, either my girlfriend or I would have gotten bitten.
Thankfully, I saw it and pushed Krissy behind me and promptly backed away.
I got a better look, out of immediate danger. After pinning it down, and
picking it up, I was able to admire it's fangs. The danger is real, BE
CAREFUL OUT THERE!

If I hadn't been trained in snake handling, I wouldn't even consider trying
this. Even though I like plants that kill things, I don't want to end up
like those insects!

The whole purpose of the trip was to find P. pumila. I love that plant and
I decided to start my search in the same spot where I located it four years
prior. When I was there previously, there were only a few dozen specimens.
I collected seed to bring back and scattered some in an adjoining,
uncolonized area. I guess they like it there, because there are now
literally thousands of flowering plants! There were colors ranging from pure
white to light purple. Beautiful to say the least.

There are also the following: D. capilaris, D. brevifolia, D. intermedia,
dionaea muscipula, S. purpurea, S. flava, S. x catesbaei, P. pumila, and
misc utrics. Not bad for one place!

Take care & keep on growing,



-Tom- & Krissy


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