Darlingtonia and Drosera...

... are the genus names of two of our bog-dwelling California native carnivorous plants. The more conspicuous Darlingtonia californica is a pitcher plant also known as the cobra lily, for obvious reasons once you have seen one. And Drosera rotundifolia is the lovely if smaller and prostrate native sundew. The pitchers entice insects into their bright green vase, from which they cannot escape and are digested; the sundews employ sticky red droplets to hold and then envelope their prey. 

Up in the far northern mountains of California, such as the Trinity Alps, you can find these wonderful plants in various locations, but they are rare in the Sierras. The best place to check them out is the Butterfly Valley Botanical Area, not far from scary Keddie, CA. I try to make a stop there every time I am in the Feather River canyon or Lakes Basin areas north of Tahoe.

On this visit, one of the dirt roads that used to cross the top of the boggy meadow had been closed off and is being restored (see last two photos below), connecting a pitcher-filled drainage ditch with the sprawling meadow below. The strange, waxy flowers of the Darlingtonia were a bit past their prime, but the meadow was still vigorously soggy during a very dry season, and the sundews were abundant. A very special place: Do check it out, but tread lightly.