Crystal Bog was my favorite place to explore at the Trout Lake Research Station. I wore knee-high boots and mosquito netting to explore the spongy mats of Sphagnum moss in search of the specialized plant life found in a bog. In this low-nutrient environment, carnivorous plants such as Pitcher Plants and Roundleaf Sundew exist. Other plants encountered: Labrador Tea, Leatherleaf, Cranberries, Bog Laurel, and Bog Rosemary. Tamarack and Black Spruce lined the edge of the bog’s clearing.

A highlight of my residency was learning to cast a plankton net and viewing my catch under a microscope! Tiny underwater creatures called zooplankton may escape casual notice, but they are a vital part of the aquatic food web. This illustration identifies some of the zooplankton species common to Wisconsin waters.

Trout Lake is a year-round station. On-site cabins have electricity and running water— and are within earshot of the loons calling out on the Lake. I was able to borrow a station canoe to paddle Trout Lake and nearby Allequash Lake.