Kettle Bog Visit

The North Springfield Bog formed over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age as the glacier receded. The bog catches water, like a bowl, and has no inlet or outlet. It is a wetland that has accumulated a thick layer of peat--dead plant material that does not decay because it's always wet. The water is acidic supporting many types of acid soil loving plants like blueberries.

Pitcher plants are the most readily identified plants in New England bogs.

They are carnivorous plants that grown on the peat mat. Their leaves form a tube and collect rainwater. As insects land to collect fresh water they become trapped by the downward facing hairs on the inner surface of the leaves. The plant releases enzyme that digest the insects and and the plant uses the nutrients released by the insects to supply itself in the nutrient poor environment.

I visited this bog today with my friend Grace. Our next bog trip will be to the: Eshqua Bog in Hartland Vt

The North Springfield Bog walk doesn't take long so if you are in the Springfield area it is worth the trip to check out this Boreal Kettle Bog.

More images from our hike: SmugMug Kettle Bog

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