2008-05-04 To top off the weekend, I ventured down to the Francis Marion National Forest in Berkeley County, South Carolina. I had seen Sarracenia hybrids in bloom during this time of the season in previous years. Eventhough I am an orchidophile, I am always gratified to see the colorful Sarracenia flowers.

During early May, the flowers of the Sarracenia flava species and varieties are pretty much spent, so all I saw was new pitchers. However, S. minor and S. rubra were at peak bloom -- S. minor being especially plentiful. Since they both bloom at the same time, there are several swarms of the hybrid called S. Xrehderi.

Interestingly enough, although S. flava and S. minor grow intermingled, their bloom times are a couple of weeks apart, so there are none of their hybrids in the Francis Marion.

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