Field Trip Archive

Field Trip to Polly’s Cove Trail Oct. 29 or Oct. 30

The field trip to the Polly’s Cove Trail (between Peggy’s Cove and West Dover) has been moved to the following weekend due to Hurricane Fiona.

Meet at Parking area: 10:00 Am Sunday Oct 2. Rain Date Sat. Oct 1.

Take route 333 from Upper Tantallon St.Margaret’s Bay Road about 23 km to site, a little past Peggy’s cove (< 1km) ,Parking for 5-6 cars on the right seaward side of the road. Area is filled with granite whale backs,barrens,bogs,small ponds etc. The seacoast also has a wide variety of coastal flora. 2-4 hrs. Bring lunch.water, binoculars,camera etc. Dress for the weather. Bogs are dry at present and hiking boots may be ok.

Please contact Charlie Cron to let him know that you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.
Ferry crosses once an hour on the half hour. No other stops required, except for gas if needed.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

 

Field Trip to Polly’s Cove Trail Oct. 29 or Oct. 30

The field trip to the Polly’s Cove Trail (between Peggy’s Cove and West Dover) has been moved to the following weekend due to Hurricane Fiona.

Meet at Parking area: 10:00 Am Sunday Oct 2. Rain Date Sat. Oct 1.

Take route 333 from Upper Tantallon St.Margaret’s Bay Road about 23 km to site, a little past Peggy’s cove (< 1km) ,Parking for 5-6 cars on the right seaward side of the road. Area is filled with granite whale backs,barrens,bogs,small ponds etc. The seacoast also has a wide variety of coastal flora. 2-4 hrs. Bring lunch.water, binoculars,camera etc. Dress for the weather. Bogs are dry at present and hiking boots may be ok.

Please contact Charlie Cron to let him know that you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com

NSWFS/Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Botanical Walks – June 26, 2023 Inverness County

Showy Lady’s Slipper – Cypripedium reginae – Photo by Jeff White

There will be two walks near Lake Ainsley on June 26

The morning walk will be conducted by the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society to see the Showy Lady’s Slippers. Participants will meet at 1171 Blackstone Rd. (at the intersection with W. Lake Ainsley Rd.) at 9:30. We will car pool to the head of the Inverness Shean/Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, then walk about a km to the access point for the orchids. We will then hike about 200m into the brush. If time allows, we will then drive to a site where a pure white Lady’s Slipper is known. Please register for this walk (if you have not yet done so) by emailing novascotiawildflora@gmail.com

Bring a lunch, boots and insect repellent.

The afternoon walk starts from the same location, 1171 Blackstone Rd. at 1:00pm. This walk is being conducted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conjunction with the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre and the Nova Scotian Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.  We will wander through the Black River Bog property nearby and check out some wonderful bog and other flora, including the rare sage willow. We look forward to seeing you there!

Registration and more details for the afternoon walk are to be found at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-river-bog-botanical-walk-tickets-653998135027?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please register separately for both events!

 

Field Trip to Meguma Falls with Nature NS – May 27, 2023

Field Trip starts at the Yellow Birch Trailhead 9:00AM May 27. We will follow Sandy Cope trail (solid red line) then the trail to Meguma Falls (dotted line). The Sandy Cope Trail is easy and the Meguma Falls Trail is moderate. Some may wish to only do the easier part of the trail.

To get there from Halifax: Drive to Truro,take exit 14A turn Right onto Onslow Road ( NS 2) and drive 3.7 Km at a Flashing Yellow light turn left onto Hwy 311. Drive about 26 km,and turn right onto Kemptown Road. Drive about 5 km on the Kemptown Road. The Gully lake Wilderness Trail Head will be on your left. There is limited Parking for cars; if full, park on the roadside. Do not block the entrance as this is also a Gated fire road. We will access the trails from the fire road., and return along the fire road.
We should arrive by 09:00 hrs.

 

Field Trip to see Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper May 26 Confirmed, 2023

Trip is now confirmed. Meet at the Carpool Parking lot near exit 4 at St Croix at 10:o0hrs. : Take exit 4 at St Croix go to the Evangeline Trail, turn left (marked exit to Halifax), drive about ½ km to the carpool site, gravel road near Hwy 101, exit to Halifax is on the opposite side of the 101. Do not drive under the highway as you will have gone too far. The carpool site is off the gravel road adjacent to the 101 on the St Croix side of the 101. We will meet there.

This walk will be on Nature Trust land and will include a person from Nature Trust and 2 land owners. It will probably be 2-3 hours of light hiking. The maximum participants from NSWFS is 8, so please register with Charles Cron if you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

Hike to McIntosh Run Trails for City Nature Challenge – Sat. Apr. 29, 2023

As a contribution to the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, NSWFS is conducting a hike through some of the more unique vegetation in HRM on Saturday April 29: Starting in the Jack Pine barrens of McIntosh Trail Run then down to the wetlands of Flat Lake .

Broom Crowberry – Corema conradii          Phot0 Charles Cron

We will meet at the Osprey Trailhead Parking Lot at the end of Alabaster Way;  10:00AM. It is an entry point to the McIntosh Run trail system.

Parking is limited. Street parking is possible in some areas. An alternate parking lot is available at the Spryfield Lions Rink. You can carpool from there in limit numbers. There are multiple access points to the trail system along the granite ridge, running parallel with the houses.

We will travel east along the green marked trail to the Flat lake lookoff, hopefully to the lakeshore, then return to the west through a complicated series of trails known as the attic and Lou’s basement. There are many switchbacks and informal unmarked cross trails, much of which is on private lands and not part of the McIntosh Run trail system. 

About 4 hrs. bring  lunch, cameras, binoculars, rain gear, hiking boots or waterproof footwear. Trails are easy but mostly on granite rock. Expect to see Jack pine in various stages, Broom Crowberry, Leatherleaf, Sweet Gale, and Long Stalked Sedge in bloom. We will also visit a site of the endangered Pine Barren Goldheather, just emerging from the harsh winter.

Please email novascotiawildflora@gmail.com to register. All are welcome.

NSWFS Field Trip Balancing Rock Trail moved to March 26, 2023

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.
Ferry crosses once an hour on the half hour. No other stops required, except for gas if needed.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

 

Field Trip to Polly’s Cove Trail Oct. 29 or Oct. 30

The field trip to the Polly’s Cove Trail (between Peggy’s Cove and West Dover) has been moved to the following weekend due to Hurricane Fiona.

Meet at Parking area: 10:00 Am Sunday Oct 2. Rain Date Sat. Oct 1.

Take route 333 from Upper Tantallon St.Margaret’s Bay Road about 23 km to site, a little past Peggy’s cove (< 1km) ,Parking for 5-6 cars on the right seaward side of the road. Area is filled with granite whale backs,barrens,bogs,small ponds etc. The seacoast also has a wide variety of coastal flora. 2-4 hrs. Bring lunch.water, binoculars,camera etc. Dress for the weather. Bogs are dry at present and hiking boots may be ok.

Please contact Charlie Cron to let him know that you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com

NSWFS/Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Botanical Walks – June 26, 2023 Inverness County

Showy Lady’s Slipper – Cypripedium reginae – Photo by Jeff White

There will be two walks near Lake Ainsley on June 26

The morning walk will be conducted by the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society to see the Showy Lady’s Slippers. Participants will meet at 1171 Blackstone Rd. (at the intersection with W. Lake Ainsley Rd.) at 9:30. We will car pool to the head of the Inverness Shean/Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, then walk about a km to the access point for the orchids. We will then hike about 200m into the brush. If time allows, we will then drive to a site where a pure white Lady’s Slipper is known. Please register for this walk (if you have not yet done so) by emailing novascotiawildflora@gmail.com

Bring a lunch, boots and insect repellent.

The afternoon walk starts from the same location, 1171 Blackstone Rd. at 1:00pm. This walk is being conducted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conjunction with the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre and the Nova Scotian Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.  We will wander through the Black River Bog property nearby and check out some wonderful bog and other flora, including the rare sage willow. We look forward to seeing you there!

Registration and more details for the afternoon walk are to be found at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-river-bog-botanical-walk-tickets-653998135027?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please register separately for both events!

 

Field Trip to Meguma Falls with Nature NS – May 27, 2023

Field Trip starts at the Yellow Birch Trailhead 9:00AM May 27. We will follow Sandy Cope trail (solid red line) then the trail to Meguma Falls (dotted line). The Sandy Cope Trail is easy and the Meguma Falls Trail is moderate. Some may wish to only do the easier part of the trail.

To get there from Halifax: Drive to Truro,take exit 14A turn Right onto Onslow Road ( NS 2) and drive 3.7 Km at a Flashing Yellow light turn left onto Hwy 311. Drive about 26 km,and turn right onto Kemptown Road. Drive about 5 km on the Kemptown Road. The Gully lake Wilderness Trail Head will be on your left. There is limited Parking for cars; if full, park on the roadside. Do not block the entrance as this is also a Gated fire road. We will access the trails from the fire road., and return along the fire road.
We should arrive by 09:00 hrs.

 

Field Trip to see Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper May 26 Confirmed, 2023

Trip is now confirmed. Meet at the Carpool Parking lot near exit 4 at St Croix at 10:o0hrs. : Take exit 4 at St Croix go to the Evangeline Trail, turn left (marked exit to Halifax), drive about ½ km to the carpool site, gravel road near Hwy 101, exit to Halifax is on the opposite side of the 101. Do not drive under the highway as you will have gone too far. The carpool site is off the gravel road adjacent to the 101 on the St Croix side of the 101. We will meet there.

This walk will be on Nature Trust land and will include a person from Nature Trust and 2 land owners. It will probably be 2-3 hours of light hiking. The maximum participants from NSWFS is 8, so please register with Charles Cron if you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

Hike to McIntosh Run Trails for City Nature Challenge – Sat. Apr. 29, 2023

As a contribution to the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, NSWFS is conducting a hike through some of the more unique vegetation in HRM on Saturday April 29: Starting in the Jack Pine barrens of McIntosh Trail Run then down to the wetlands of Flat Lake .

Broom Crowberry – Corema conradii          Phot0 Charles Cron

We will meet at the Osprey Trailhead Parking Lot at the end of Alabaster Way;  10:00AM. It is an entry point to the McIntosh Run trail system.

Parking is limited. Street parking is possible in some areas. An alternate parking lot is available at the Spryfield Lions Rink. You can carpool from there in limit numbers. There are multiple access points to the trail system along the granite ridge, running parallel with the houses.

We will travel east along the green marked trail to the Flat lake lookoff, hopefully to the lakeshore, then return to the west through a complicated series of trails known as the attic and Lou’s basement. There are many switchbacks and informal unmarked cross trails, much of which is on private lands and not part of the McIntosh Run trail system. 

About 4 hrs. bring  lunch, cameras, binoculars, rain gear, hiking boots or waterproof footwear. Trails are easy but mostly on granite rock. Expect to see Jack pine in various stages, Broom Crowberry, Leatherleaf, Sweet Gale, and Long Stalked Sedge in bloom. We will also visit a site of the endangered Pine Barren Goldheather, just emerging from the harsh winter.

Please email novascotiawildflora@gmail.com to register. All are welcome.

NSWFS Field Trip Balancing Rock Trail moved to March 26, 2023

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.

Our annual field trip to Digby Neck Balancing Rock Trail to find the first bloomers of spring: early flowering skunk cabbage and dwarf mistletoe, has been moved to  Sun March 26 due to weather. 

We are fortunate to have Bob Guscott joining us this year. He is an expert in dwarf mistletoe and gave an excellent talk to us last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwPnlPIS9Ns

Register with Charles Cron if you would like to attend. Call 902-477-8272 and leave a message with Name & phone number or email ccron72@hotmail.com.

Note New Directions: 4hr drive from Halifax to Balancing Rock including free ferry crossing at East Ferry.
Ferry crosses once an hour on the half hour. No other stops required, except for gas if needed.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

We will meet at the Balancing Rock Parking lot by10:00 to 10:30 hrs. Follow the road signs and ignore previous instructions. The site is well marked with a large sign 1Km past Tiverton on Long Island.

 

Field Trip to Polly’s Cove Trail Oct. 29 or Oct. 30

The field trip to the Polly’s Cove Trail (between Peggy’s Cove and West Dover) has been moved to the following weekend due to Hurricane Fiona.

Meet at Parking area: 10:00 Am Sunday Oct 2. Rain Date Sat. Oct 1.

Take route 333 from Upper Tantallon St.Margaret’s Bay Road about 23 km to site, a little past Peggy’s cove (< 1km) ,Parking for 5-6 cars on the right seaward side of the road. Area is filled with granite whale backs,barrens,bogs,small ponds etc. The seacoast also has a wide variety of coastal flora. 2-4 hrs. Bring lunch.water, binoculars,camera etc. Dress for the weather. Bogs are dry at present and hiking boots may be ok.

Please contact Charlie Cron to let him know that you plan to attend. ccron72@hotmail.com