Upcoming Eagle Hill Online Seminar: Natural History of Insect Pollinators Ron Butler and Herb Wilson April 1–15, 2025

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Bob Kennedy

Click here for details

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Member’s Zoom Meeting Monday March 24, 7:30pm: Jeremy Lundholm – Nova Scotia Barrens Vegetation: Classification, Dynamics and Comparisons with Other Regions.

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Bob Kennedy

Pictures Jeremy Lundholm. Close up is of Kalmia procumbens

Jeremy will go through the recent updates to the barrens classification that was published in 2020 and discuss some of the new types that are now recognized. Then he will talk about some of the new research on dynamics: the possible role of fire and other disturbances in the creation and maintenance of some types of barrens. Finally, he’ll discuss these issues in the context of recent trips to other regions with barrens (Newfoundland & S. Labrador; Finland and Norway).

Jeremy Lundholm is a plant ecologist with a PhD from the University of Guelph. His research focuses on tidal wetland restoration, biodiversity on barrens, and vegetation classification. He works for TransCoastal Adaptations at SMU and CB Wetlands and Environmental Specialists as a Senior Research Associate.

An email will soon be sent to NSWFS members with the Zoom link.

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Nature Nova Scotia’s Celebration of Nature May 23-25, 2025

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Bob Kennedy

This year’s Celebration of Nature will be hosted by “The Cliffs of Fundy” and will be held May 23 – 25.

The Cliffs of Fundy are happy to be the Host Club for the Celebration of Nature 2025. Our Venue will be at the Debert Hospitality Centre, May 23rd, 24th, 25th. The room rates and meal rates are VERY reasonable, and we hope all the members will encourage your club members to attend. Many activities are being planned for the weekend event.

A Silent Auction will be held, with Nature Related items from $5.00 to $500.00. Many artists and friends of Nature have promised to contribute.

Jan 17th, 2025. Isle Haute in the Minas Channel was declared a National Wildlife area in the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark .

Details of the event, including the schedule of activities and registration details are found here: https://naturens.ca/events/2025-celebration-of-nature/

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NSWFS will be at Seedy Saturday Feb.15

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Bob Kennedy

The Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society will have a table to promote growing native plants at Seedy Saturday at the Desbrisay Museum in Bridgewater on Saturday Feb. 15. Thanks to Rosemarie Lohnes of Helping Nature Heal for making this happen.

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NSWFS Live & Zoom Meeting: Mon Feb 24, 7:30pm – Invasive Plants in Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Bob Kennedy
European Reed -Phragmites australis australis; Armenian or Himilayan Blackberry -Rubus armeniacus;
Dog-Strangling Vine – Vincetoxicum rossicum; Damage from Emerald Ash Borer -Agrilus planipennis     Photos from NSISC

Our next meeting will be at the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St., Halifax at 7:30pm on Mondy February 24. Enter by the basement door by the parking lot. The meeting will also be streamed via Zoom and a link to Zoom will be sent out to members.

For centuries, invasive plant species have been introduced to Nova Scotia. These plants threaten native biodiversity and several species at risk. This talk will discuss what makes a species invasive, highlight some particularly problematic invasive species in Nova Scotia, and outline what we can all do to help stop their spread.

Hughstin Grimshaw-Surette is from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and from an early age has had a strong interest in insects and plants. He holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and a M.Sc. in Applied Science from Saint Mary’s University. As the Terrestrial Project Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council, he is involved with invasive plant and insect surveys, invasive plant management, and outreach activities.

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Program for Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society Members’ Photo Night Monday Jan 27, 2025

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Bob Kennedy
Braun's Holly Fern - Polystichum braunii

Braun’s Holly Fern – Polystichum braunii

Our next member’s meeting will be on January 27 and will offer a variety of our members favourite photos.

The schedule is as follows:

Presenter Title Description
David McCorquodale Ferns of Cape Breton
Suzanne Gautier April Gardens in London, UK Kew, The Wetlands, Isabella Plantation, Physic Garden, Kyoto Garden, Gunnsbury
Emillie Rose Native Species in the Shore Up Programme Emillie is a project manager for Helping Nature Heal Inc.
Peter Steiner Shelburne burn regeneration Using pinweed (Lechea intermedia) and it’s sub-species as an an indicator of burns and other historical disturbances to the ecosystem
Charles Cron Various images from 2024
Bob Kennedy Plants of Hokkaido, Japan last October Looking at ecosystems near Sapporo with local native plants that have become invasives here

Members should have received an email invitation to the Zoom. If you have not received the link, please contact novascotiawildflora@gmail.com.

Time to renew for 2025! Membership is still $15 individual, $20 family membership. You can pay by e-transfer or cheque to novascotiawildflora@gmail.com

 

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On “A Tale of Nature’s Collaboration”

Posted on December 9, 2024 by admin

NSWFS member Norris Whiston has a passion for “distilling complex info”, at least that’s the way I would describe it. His latest: A “One-Pager” on the historical (geological) timeline for evolution of Mycorrhizae and their associations with plants.

It begins 500 MYA (Million years Ago) when “ARBUSCULAR FUNGI began to associate with liverworts, recycle and form Earth’s earliest soil”, and goes up to “[84-66 MYA]:

ORCHIDACEAE FUNGI Orchids, including lady slippers and ladies’ tresses have a special fungus. Dr. Santiago R. Ramırez (UC Davis): “Our results indicate that the most recent common ancestor of extant orchids lived in the Late Cretaceous and also suggest that the dramatic radiation of orchids began shortly after the mass extinctions at the K/T boundary. These results further support the hypothesis of an ancient origin for Orchidaceae.”

Continue reading →

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NSWFS Live & Zoom Meeting: Mon Nov 25, 7:30 – Research on using Marsh Elder (Iva Fructans) to help protect our coastlines

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

The next Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society meeting is Monday Nov. 25, 7:30pm in the downstairs auditorium of the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St, Halifax. It will also be broadcast via Zoom.

Allison MacNeil is a Masters student in Botany at Saint Mary’s University. Earlier this year the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society provided financial support for her research into coastal resilience techniques using our native Marsh Elder (Iva frutescens) as a focal species.

Allison will be giving us a presentation showing the progress of her research. Marsh Elder  is found in the upper areas of salt marshes and has the potential to play a significant role in protecting our coastlines. Despite its importance, little is known about this shrub, especially in Nova Scotia, where it is restricted to the Minas Basin and Yarmouth areas. Allison will discuss her work in determining Marsh Elder’s habitat preferences, assessing fitness differences between populations, and identifying effective planting techniques to support its use in coastal restoration.

The link to the Zoom presentation will be e-mailed to members. Please contact novascotiawildflora@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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NSWFS Field trip Sunday Nov 10, 2024, Rain Date Sat Nov.9. West Dover

Posted on November 5, 2024 by admin

Meet Parking Lot opposite the Ball field at West Dover 2:00 PM . Will follow a trail to a scattered rocky barrens with Jack Pine and other conifers. Glacial erratics rocky outcrops with Bearberry trailing over the rocks.

Please register so we can contact you for any changes. See Programme for details.
Leader : Charles Cron.

Weather forecast is good at present but may change.

Oct 1, 2023 (david p)

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Monday Oct 28, 2024 at 7:30 pm: The Natural and Not-so-Natural History of Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS)

Posted on October 20, 2024 by admin

Each one of the 1000 or so lakes in HRM is physically unique but they share common threats to their ongoing integrity associated with climate change and urbanization. In this presentation, NSWFS member David Patriquin will take us on a a visual tour of Sandy Lake and its associated wetlands and watercourses and describe/discuss ongoing and potential future impacts of climate change and urbanization on the recreational and ecological qualities of Sandy Lake.
Now posted as YouTube Video

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