Pitcher Plant

It was a two hour drive and whenever I headed out on the highway to go to the city, I would take my camera. The landscape in Newfoundland is beautiful any time of the year and I didn't want to miss a thing. A friend, who is also a photography buff, came along on the trip. I could always count on her, when I was focused on driving, to make me "stop and smell the roses" along the way.

The first half of the trip we spent catching up on old news and sharing photo ideas, and then all of a sudden she said "stop the car". Off to the left, there was a marsh covered with brilliantly colored pitcher plants, Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial flower. We had time to spare and couldn't resist an opportunity to capture them at their best. It was a warm, slightly overcast day, and the bright red flowers stood out brilliantly against the mossy green and yellow marsh, in perfect contrast. I am amazed at how these plants survive so beautifully in such conditions. We decided to take a closer look and got out to stretch our legs and breathe the delicious fresh air.

I went around the back of the car to get my camera and called out to Wanda to ask what she was wearing on her feet. We were dressed for city shopping, not a walk in a bog, but never knew where we would end up on a road trip. From off in the distance, she replied "sandals". She was already out on the marsh, and didn't mind at all that her feet were soaked. Not to be outdone of course, I had to follow.

If you want to get a good shot of a pitcher plant, you need to get down to it's level, which is about a foot off the ground, to truly appreciate the shape of the flower, and the sturdiness of the leaves and stem. It didn't take long to realize it wasn't easy to maintain your balance on the wet, uneven surface, while squatting and trying to steady a camera at the same time, in order to get eye-level with a pitcher plant. Needless to say we took a few spills but had a great laugh trying to capture the moment. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of my day.

The pitcher plant is a great choice for Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial flower. In spite of our changing climate, the sturdy plant endures whatever nature throws at it, and still stands tall in striking color. It is illegal to cut them, but we can capture them through photography and enjoy them forever. It is their strength and beauty that reminds me of the courage, and a relentless will to survive, that is our heritage.