7/28/16 – Pitcher plants are well-known in Minnesota. Today I paddled out to Kelso Lake to see if they were out for the summer, and they didn’t disappoint!

These carnivorous plants feed on insects, with their pitcher-shaped leaves acting as a trap.

The leaves are slippery, and lined with downward-pointing hairs. At the bottom is an enzyme-rich liquid which traps and absorbs the insects and their protein.

I also saw some white water lilies, which are technically called “fragrant water lilies” to distinguish them from bullhead lilies, which are the yellow, cup-shaped ones. A fun fact about these lilies is that after they bloom, the stem contracts and pulls the lily into the water. After the seeds in the seedpod mature, they float the surface, and then sink again, starting the life cycle of the lily all over again.

I saw all of this on the Kelso Loop, one of the day trips out of Sawbill. The next time you’re up here, consider doing the loop, and keep your eyes peeled for pitcher plants! – Elena