Wild Flora and Habitat in Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society is dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of wild flora and habitat, especially in Nova Scotia. A non-profit organization and an affiliate of the North American Native Plant Society, the society welcomes all people who are interested in native flora. Members meet regularly on a social basis to host speakers, plan recreational field trips, and organize other events.
This web site serves to create awareness about the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society, and to be a source of information for topics of interest to all wildflower enthusiasts.
Please read the President's Welcome.
Issues, Events, Workshops
September 22: Drawing and Painting Mushrooms and Fungi, with artist and illustrator Twila Robar-DeCoste, joined by mycologist Catherine Pross. Taking students from basic drawing skills through to finished
small paintings. Great lead-up to the Annual Mushroom Foray at White Point Sept. 24-26. "In my humble
opinion, mushroom paintings have always been favored over photos,"writes Robar-DeCoste. "Botanical
painting with either flowers or fungi is a very pleasant artistic task." Limited enrollment. $95 plus HST.
Lunch and snacks provided. Register by phoning 902 683-2763, or email HLC@eastlink.ca.
Sept 24-26th: Mushroom ForayThe Nova Scotia Mycological Society is holding its 3rd annual mushroom foray at White Point, Sept. 24-26th. Reservations required. Details
Natural Resources strategy in the works
The Bancroft-Crossman phase 2 report, "A Natural Balance" recommends significant changes in forest harvesting practices to conserve biodiversity and the forest resource. Please express support of their recommendations. Read more
Avon Peninsula
NSWFS endorsed the citation of the Avon Peninsula as the Lady Slipper Capital of the Maritimes, but a major challenge looms: Fundy Gypsum's plans to construct a strip mine in the forested "watershed commons" at the centre of the Peninsula. Read more
Recent Additions
- Fraxinua nigra (black ash)
- Fragaria virginiana ssp. virginiana (Virginia strawberry)
- Pyrola americana (American wintergreen)
- Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber-root)
- Primula laurentiana (bird's-eye primula, cowslip)
- Pinus banksiana (jack pine)
Now and in the Future
By knowing our wildflowers we can better preserve them for ourselves and for the future.
Wildflowers are often abundant, but they are not indestructible - many of our loveliest ones are in danger of extinction by our carelessness. This need not happen if we observe the following rules of courtesy:
- Do not pick the wildflowers. Enjoy them and leave them for someone else to enjoy. They are perishable and have a very short "indoor" life; also, with many of them, roots as well as seeds are killed when the flowers are picked.
- Do not try to transplant them into your garden. Almost without exception, they do not tolerate root disturbance. Your chances of success in raising them domestically are far greater if you begin with seed. Even so, many of them need soil, temperature, and other conditions not available outside of their immediate environment.
- Be respectful of them in their natural environment. Do not injure them with fire, tramping, or other thoughtless acts.
The text above is an excerpt from a book published in 1914. Even then, naturalists were concerned for the conservation of the wild flora! Source: Berniece Anderson & Arthur H Holmgren. 1914. Mountain Plants of Northeastern Utah. Logan: Utah State University. A revised edition is available online.