Nature on the Bay - Botanicals
Because of the wide variety of habitats found throughout the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and the Mobile Bay area, Alabama consistently ranks among the top three states in overall biodiversity. This is especially true when it comes to plant life. The region features hundreds of native species, many of which are exclusive to the area. There are over 300 varieties of wildflowers alone, including many rare and unusual species.
In the Delta, meandering river and creek trails feature wetland habitats composed of marsh grasses and Cypress and Tupelo Gum forests, while sandy bluffs bordering back-bay marshes are crowned with beautiful stands of Longleaf Pine, Maple, Oak and Hickory.
The unspoiled beauty of the area is highlighted by hollies, ferns, azaleas, wisteria, passionflowers, hibiscus, primrose and, of course, sea oats. In a natural setting, the Hampton Inn® Mobile-East Bay/Daphne hotel itself is surrounded by a wide variety of plant life indigenous to the area.
The most fascinating habitat found in the region is the bog. Numerous exotic plants make their home in the area’s bogs—unique habitats that bring together an unusual combination of water, soil and environmental conditions. Bogs support a variety of rare and unusual species found nowhere else in the world—such as the Canebrake pitcher plant, one of several carnivorous pitcher plant species that thrive in such surroundings. Carnivorous pitcher plants attract and drown prey—such as insects and small frogs—within their tubular leaves.
The beautiful, umbrella-shaped flowers of pitcher plants begin blossoming in early spring. Late spring and summer usher in an abundance wildflowers and several spectacular species from the orchid family—serving as hosts for a variety of butterflies. In the fall, the bogs come alive with various species of asters, providing a wash of oranges, yellows and purples.
Must-see sights include Mobile Botanical Gardens, Bellingrath Gardens and Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog.
