Thursday, December 18, 2014

Spanish Moss and Cypress Trees

Welcome Sign Through a Wet Windshield
We've made our way into Louisiana, and are staying at Lake Bistineau State Park.  It is a beautiful wooded park, and we pretty much have it to ourselves as the weather has turned cold and cloudy since we arrived.
Lake Bistineau State Park
They have drawn the lake down to try to combat an introduced invasive species called Giant Salvinia. We have heard that this plant has also been found in Caddo Lake in Texas.  Once established it is apparently very difficult to manage, and impossible to eradicate.
Giant Salvinia
The view out our door is of Spanish Moss draped Cypress Trees. We've seen Downy, Red-bellied, Red-headed, and Pileated Woodpeckers, as well as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. 
Cypress Filled Swamp
This looks like it would be a wonderful place to canoe or kayak, once they refill the lake. Gliding among the Cypress trees would be a fantastic experience.
Onward to Mississippi...

Mark

3 comments:

  1. They are battling salvinia here at Imperial as well. If you scoop it up with a net it doesn't help. What's left over just reproduces I'm told. :(

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  2. Haven't heard of that invasive species... guess it's always something, isn't it?

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  3. Safe travels. We made it to Attwater, safe and sound.

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