To know the Southern Appalachian Mountains is to know its plants.  This I hold true.  So, to know its rare plants is especially important, to me.  They are quite literally the little things; the details.  A few years ago, friend and photographer, Susan Stamey, introduced me to a cataract bog along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment.  We didn’t find any wildflowers on our exploratory visit, but I saw the potential.  I returned frequently over the course of years, and I’ve been rewarded each time with new discoveries.  It’s a truly unique habitat.

One of the discoveries and introductions has been the Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plant.  I first found this plant in early autumn, marveling over the green, tubular, carnivorous pitchers with their fun little hoods (to block rainwater I assume).  They were not in flower, but I still shot quite a few frames as I got aquainted.  I returned the following year and got to witness the Mountain Sweet Pitcher plants in flower, their large, five-petaled, deep maroon blooms making quite the impression.

This year, my visit was a bit early on the calendar, and I was a bit nervous my timing was off.  Luckily, I found quite a few of the Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plants in flower.  It was a very warm morning, the air thick with humidity.  Dew decorated the flowers with moisture and texture.  It was absolutely stunning!  The sun was already beating down on the location–these federally endangered wildflowers love full sun.  Editing these images, I found that every water droplet on the flower petals had a blown out highlight!  It was a bit of a nightmare.  But, I think I got a nice result overall.  What say you?

Federally endangered plant.
G2 globally imperiled (NatureServe)
S1 critically imperiled South Carolina (NatureServe)

Camera:  Nikon D850
Lens:  Nikon 60mm micro @ 60mm
Tripod:  Really Right Stuff TVC-33

Date taken:  April 30, 2025
Settings:  f14, 1/30 second, iso 250