Earlier this year, VAWP hosted a Fun in the Field nature walk at the Cherry Orchard Bog NAP on the Sussex/Prince George County line. This site was originally acquired to protect a very rare natural community type in Virginia – a Coastal Plain Seepage Bog. It was later expanded to its current size to support re-establishment of a long-leaf pine community on both sides of the seepage bog; and is currently actively managed with prescribed burning. The seepage bog supports a large number of rare plants that are adapted to wet sandy soils low in pH and nutrients.  The walks were led by Robin Bedenbaugh, and participants were able to explore a rare ecosystem and see many uncommon and rare plants, as well as some cool fauna!

Species observed included rose pogonia orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides; picture 1), slender iris (Iris prismatica: picture 2), sandhills bog lily (Lilium pyrophilum; picture 3), orange milkwort (Polygala lutea; picture 4), bog-buttons (Lachnocaulon anceps; picture 4), roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia; picture 5), white fringed orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis; picture 6), yellow-eyed grass (Xyris spp; picture 7), sand bog death-camas (Zigadenus glaberrimus; picture 8), crested fringed orchid (Platanthera cristata; picture 9), Cuthbert’s turtlehead (Chelone cuthbertii; picture 10), and closed gentian (Gentiana saponaria; picture 11).

A gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor; picture 12), eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus; picture 13), wetland giant wolf spider (Tigrosa helluo; picture 14), white-banded crab spider (Misumenoides formosipes; picture 15), six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton; picture 16), and green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans; picture 17) were also spotted during the walks. These walks are a wonderful opportunity to explore a unique ecosystem and the extraordinary plants and animals that inhabit them so please join us next summer for this wonderful experience!