2008-04-06 Day trip to an upstate South Carolina heritage preserve to photograph Helonias bullata (swamp pink). This is the souternmost site for this species in North America. On April 6, the buds are just beginning to show beneath the leaves. By about April 20, the flower stems will be about two feet tall, and the fragrant, pink flowers with blue stamens will be in full bloom.

The area where these plants grow is called a "montane bog" -- becomming more rare as land is drained in preparation for agriculture or development. There are only a few montane bogs remaining in South Carolina. This species is on the Federally Threatened list and is protected by being in a state Heritage Preserve.

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