The best way to describe how much I loved this place is that I haven’t stopped telling people to go there since I visited. It was probably the most pristine boardwalk hike I have encountered. I also happened to visit during peak bloom time for the Rhododendrons, which made it unusually impressive.
The flora at Labrador Hollow is typical of a high-mountain Adirondack bog, but it isn’t in the Adirondacks, it’s a 30 minute drive south of Syracuse. Bogs are known for their high acidity and moisture, making an ideal habitat for the acid-loving family, Ericaceae. Plants in this family that most everyone is familiar with: blueberry, rhododendron, and heather. I encountered a handfull of Ericaeae species in bloom, or fruiting already. Other plants that enjoy this wet environment are dogwoods and sedges, which were prevalent throughout the bog.
Because of the immense humidity, the fragrance of the Rhododendron flowers clung in the air. Butterflies flittered by stopping only to collect nectar. The sound of bullfrogs resonated throughout the boardwalk. My photographs fail to emulate the smells and sounds of Labrador Hollow, although they might convince a few people to visit themselves.
Spectacular photos! Looks like such a wonderful place to visit!
It was, put it on your list of places to visit.
Great pictures. I haven’t been there in years. It is like an Adirondack bog.