MaryE, I don't know why it grew in that one spot near the Alabama Gulf coast and that is the only place I have ever seen it grow densely in the south. Sphagnum is NOT supposed to grow in hot areas and our summer highs often reach into the 100's. When I lived on the MS Gulf coast, I visited nurseries and high-end garden centers, and one of the owers of a garden center just over the Alabama border told me about this sphagnum spot. I drove to this "bog" area several times with spade/rake in hand and brought home this live sphagnum moss for my use. This was thirty years ago and our hurricans wiped his business out many, many years ago. One day I might just venture back to this area and see if the sphagum still grows there.
Shannon, I hope you can make that Ireland trip one day. It is one of the most beautiful, and yes, wild areas I have ever seen. When you go, be sure to take the "back" roads, those not even shown on your map. You will see amazing areas and truly the history of Ireland. Now driving on the "wrong" side of the road is interesting and the roads are tiny compared to ours, but one gets used to that after a day or two. What sort of plants do you have interest in?
Ken
