One of the hidden wonders associated with our lakes in the northwoods is a unique plant community that has specialized adaptations to thrive in an acidic, low nutrient environment. Bogs are a type of wetland that is composed of a mat of plants and partially decomposed plants that form a surface that grows towards the lake center over time. These mats are solid enough to support animals and even people walking on them, albeit precariously and very bouncy and “sucky” at times.

The Northwoods Land Trust offers a number of outdoor programs each year that explore some of the properties we protect. One such program is a bog ecology and exploration opportunity at Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area in Sugar Camp with local expert Susan Knight. Susan guided participants through glacial history of the lake formation and subsequent plant growth. They had the opportunity to walk to the lake edge and step onto this mat of floating vegetation and observe these unique plants up close.

One of the key plants associated with bogs is sphagnum moss, a water laden plant that creates an acidic environment due to the chemical exchange in their cells. Leatherleaf, a native evergreen shrub, is another critical plant that aids in extending the bog mat lakeward by providing a network of roots where other plants can take hold. Other plants include labrador tea, bog laurel, bog rosemary, and cranberry. 

There are even some carnivorous plants in a bog- pitcher plant, sundew, and bladderwort. Pitcher plants are just that, hollow pitchers that fill with water and contain digestive enzymes. When animals fall into the water, they get digested, and nutrients extracted for the plant. Sundew is a fairly small plant that has a sticky, sweet-smelling drop of liquid on the end of each tentacle. When an insect lands on the drop, it is immobilized, and the plant will close slowly around it. After digestion, the trap can be reset. Bladderworts have not been found at Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area but are quite common and are most easily detected with their beautiful, above-ground flower (most common species is yellow). The actual insect-catching “bladder” with trap door is underwater and catches prey based on a pressure difference created by the plant itself.