Tarkiln Bayou State Park

I arrived under dark skies on a morning after a swarm of tornadoes left Tennessee and Mississippi reeling in their wake. Dark clouds scudded against a distant deep blue sky. I packed my blue rain jacket, expecting water— of course you expect that en route to a bog. At the Tarkiln Bayou State Park trailhead kiosk, I looked at the rough map of the park. I was surprised to find a sidewalk leading into the woods. And indeed, that’s exactly what it is: a sidewalk. It parallels a forest road. It started to rain. I considered turning back, as I hate walking on sidewalks through forests, but I let curiosity win. I got off the sidewalk and started poking around off the forest road nearby. Could there be pitcher plants in this depression? Nah. But the sundews were a good sign. It rained harder. I returned to the boardwalk. And then I saw it: a white-topped pitcher plant, just off to the left after 0.4 mile. This must be the right place!

Sure enough, a few moments later, I reached a sign: “Emma Claire Boardwalk of Hope.” I’d hoped for pitcher plants, and here they were in profusion. Red blossoms dripping from the pouring rain, rubbery red blooms and lacy white tops on the trumpets. At 0.7 mile, the boardwalk ends at a spectacular overlook on Tarkiln Bayou, the sweep of needlerush meeting the edge of the forest. A bench provides a place to enjoy the view. But the real reason to come here is the pitcher plant bog and its showy but deadly delights.