Lake Superior Project – Butterworts, Lake Superior Dragons and other Rare Botanicals
Arethusa Bulbosa, or Lake Superior Dragon. A rare orchid on Joe’s “bucket list.”
In this segment of The Lake Superior Project, we meet Joe Kravetz, a long-time volunteer for the North Country Trail Association. Joe is from Ironwood, Michigan and by his own description is “pushing 80” years old. Joe has a passion for botany and shares some of his rare finds, along with some interesting facts about Butterworts–carnivorous plants found only in very specific Lake Superior habitats along the North Shore, in Wisconsin and more rarely, in Michigan. Butterworts bloom in early-to-mid June and attract insects as a source of nutrition.
For more information about Butterworts on the North Shore, visit the Butterwort Cliffs Scientific Natural Area web page. Note that Butterwort Cliffs is a sanctuary for nesting birds and rare plants, and is closed to the public from April 1 to July 15.
Lake Superior Project is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
