Follow me on a dragon hunt along this bracken bordered path into the bog. Don’t be afraid, but be careful where you put down your feet. The bog is never as it seems.
Moss that appears ankle deep will sometimes make you sink up to your hips in green. Grassy and muddy open areas can be as deceiving and treacherous as quicksand.
Ancient northern peoples often hid their treasures and their dead in bogs. The bog swallowed them whole, preserving them indefinitely for centuries with its magical mud. Perhaps that’s why the dragons are here…
Known through the ages as protectors of treasure, dragons are part of the lore of many cultures. Sometimes good, sometimes evil, in Medieval England they were symbols of greed. Back then, conquering a dragon was a metaphor for conquering one’s desires for the material world.
Nobody knows what treasures are protected here by these dragon’s mouth orchids. One can only imagine. Dare you look down into the mouth of a dragon and ask?
Looking into the mouth of the dragon
Although they have mouths, these dragons aren’t likely to tell us what treasures are buried here. They’ve kept their secrets well hidden for centuries already. Why tell now?
Mwaahaha…
More information about the dragon’s mouth orchid can be found at John Crabtree’s Mushrooms and Wildflowers of Nova Scotia.
Text and images copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2012
Gorgeous dragons. Will you take me to the bog please?
Lynne, of course I’ll take you to the bog. The dragon’s mouth orchids might be past their bloom by the time you get here but I’m sure we’ll find something else worthwhile.
If you take Lynne into the bog, please make sure you bring her back out … Mwaahaha …
Sybil, you know how prone I am to getting lost out back… However, the loup garous do provide a good incentive for all parties to return home before nightfall.
Those are enchanting flowers – and I love the drawing they inspired! This post reminded me of a memorable visit to a floating bog on Beaver Island (in Lake Michigan). It was full of sundews and pitcher plants and stories . . . I went looking for a link for you and discovered that apparently Dragon’s Mouth orchids grow there too, but I’ve never seen them. Thank you for the virtual tour of your bog. I long to make a real trip, but this is definitely the next best thing.
Gerry, these are very enchanting indeed. I saw my first sundews last year and was equally enchanted. What lies beneath bogs (and floating ones especially) can certainly spark the imagination.
This is enchanting. Utterly enchanting–and scary. I would hate for any of us to wander into a bog and sink down to our hips or beyond! But then again, a photo of that orchid might just inspire the quest…
Kathy, I’ve been hip deep in bog mud before. In winter. It happens. You quickly learn how to identify the safe stepping spots are.
Isn’t that orchid something else? I never would have imagined such a flower would grow in Canada, let alone a bog.
I also loved that you typed: Mwaahaha… tee hee!
Kathy, that orchid just seemed to be saying that. As you already know, plant chatter can be so loud at this time of year. (Right now the elder trees are pestering me to decide which of them I’ll be sitting under at midnight on Midsummer’s Eve).
Great post Amy!
Thanks Wayne ♥ ♥ ♥
Cool! Now, I have a new tale for these bog orchids!
Thanks!
Catharus, each flower has a tale that’s waiting to be told.
Your combo of bogs and dragons got me laughing–thanks so much.
Eva, combining the unexpected can work wonders where laughter is concerned 🙂
Amy, the painting of flower morphing into dragon is very good! And the metaphor about greed is pretty strong (it is so tough to fight greed).
Thanks swaps. Yes, greed is tough to fight, whether one is rich or poor. It is part of human nature. If ever one was able to conquer it completely, I’m sure one would then have a new battle to fight with pride ;
Lovely! Breath-taking, in fact! You capture the delight and mystery that turns a ‘walk in the woods’ into an adventure. As for greed – to purloin a phrase from another recently FP’d page … “I’ve never seen a wild thing sorry for itself.” Being out ‘where the wild things are’ is a true treasure! Thanks for your post!
Hikeagiant2, to be able to be out in the wild is a treasure. Unfortunately, for too many people it’s out of their comfort zone. Walks in the woods are always an adventure for me as I do get lost in the bog on a regular basis 😉 Glad you liked the post.
your post about the dragon mouth orchids reminds me of a friend who truly believes he has witnessed fairies in the wilds…..and no, he isnt “kooky” or mad…he’s as sane as me or you! looking at your shots, i would nt be surprised that he has actually seen flowers or plants that “look” like little fairies but obviously are not real….anyways, beautiful material you have on here…long may it be so….!
Filmcamera999, the Little People roam around my neck of the Nova Scotia woods as well. The bog wouldn’t be the same without them 😉
Aren’t those flowers a peculiar sight? I still don’t know what to make of their wicked looking profiles. If they were orange and bloomed around Hallowe’en none of us would venture into the bog at that time.
Glad you enjoyed what you’ve found here. Thanks for your good wishes.