Showy Lady’s Slippers, Smiley’s Park June 23
Smiley’s Park : June 16 /24:Bridge on Clayton Mckay road is still out. Showy lady slippers are in Bloom now; still lots of immatures just past the bud stage but not yet open.
June 17 /24 Arethusa orchids in bloom at Chebucto Head but not yet at Herring Cove. At Chebucto head blooms are scattered in wet areas along with pitcher plants, Eriophorum,spike rushes,labrador tea and others.
Charles Cron
NSWFS member Peter Steiner is engaged in a research project on Viola sagittata (Arrowleaf Violet on the left) and the closely related Viola fimbriatula (Downy Blue Violet on the right). In particular, he is trying to find evidence of a rare form with 3 flowers on a single peduncle (flowering stem). This form was collected over 100 years ago in “the ornamental gardens in Halifax”. There is no other description of the location. Peter asks if other NSWFS members could keep an eye out for this unique form of violet (both are known to occur on the peninsula) to see whether it has been reproducing over time. We will also be asking members to keep an eye out for it at our Monday member’s meeting.
The next and final meeting (until next fall) for the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society will be outdoors, rain or shine, at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax on Monday May 27 at 6:30pm. Please meet us at the Prince of Wales Martello Tower, shown on the map.
PPP (Point Pleasant Park, 77 ha) is owned by the British Government, but the park is administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage while the Halifax Regional Municipality holds the lease. The municipality pays 1 shilling annually for the lease.
PPP was largely a closed canopy mature evergreen forest until Hurricane Juan hit shores of PPP in Sep 2003, leaving only a few groves untouched. An extensive public consultation was held in 2005 in which the many respondents expressed a desire for “Nature dominated landscape, Natural beauty, a place to connect with local history, a non-commercial park…” The Point Pleasant Park Comprehensive Plan was released in 2008 with a goal “To create a naturalized forest ecosystem”; it was widely applauded. In 2019, a tree-thinning program was begun, the objectives being to cut out invasive tree species such as Norway Maple, and to “thin out the weaker trees”. The final stage of thinning will begin this fall.
After discussing the member business at 6:30, we will look at vegetation in thinned and unthinned areas – there will be lots of spring flowering plants!
Some of us may arrive before 6:30 to scout around the park before the meeting.
Charles Cron will be leading a field trip to see a colony of Ram’s Head Lady’s Slippers near Windsor on Monday May 20 at 10:00AM. Exit the 101 at Highway 14 to head east towards Brooklyn. Just after exiting the highway, continue to the SECOND parking lot on the right. You will go uphill and there is a marked parking lot with trash containers etc. part way up the hill.
Left: Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s breeches)
at Cape Split, N.S. May 18, 2008. Right: Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower, wild lily of the valley) in Point Plasant Park (Halifax, Nova Scotia) June 5, 2009
‘Received this a.m. a notice about a post on Spring Ephemerals by Kate MacQuarrie on her PEI Untamed Blog. Kate’s blog has lots of natural history stuff relevant to NS.
Kate’s piece on spring ephemerals reminded me of an “article” I wrote in 2012 for the old nswildfora.ca website on “The True Spring Ephemerals in Nova Scotia“; it lists also common Early Summer Forbs. Photos are by Jack Pine, Ocotillo, Charles Cron, and Patrick Foote, many taken on NS Wild Flora Society field trips.
– david p
The Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society shares the concerns of environmentally conscious Nova Scotians on the current government’s reversal on proclaiming the Coastal Protection Act.
There are species at risk plants, ordinary salt water loving plants and habitats such as salt water estuaries and lagoons that will be affected by rising waters, not to mention the effects of storms, flooding and coastal erosion that are being seen already. For example, the current uncontrolled increase in installations of rock walls to save erosion on select properties is resulting in added environmental stress and accelerated erosion on either side of the walls. There are many studies that outline better natural maintenance conformation of beaches and shorelines by none other than Mother Nature herself when left alone!
Please come out to the Rally for the Coastal Protection Act on Wednesday, May 8 at noon outside the Nova Scotia Legislature (1726 Hollis St., Kjipuktuk/Halifax).
Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your passion for the coast. We need a really big turnout of people to make sure the message is heard loud and clear. Handmade signs are welcome and encouraged.
Rain date: Thursday, May 9, 12 – 2 p.m.
For more information, contact mimi.ohandley@ecologyaction.ca
Also, the Coastal Protection Act FB page can be found at :https://www.facebook.com/
Photo from Canadian Wildlife Federation page on the City Nature Challenge
Halifax is participating in the iNaturalist-based City Nature Challenge again, this year over the days Friday Apr 26 to Monday Apr 29
It’s pretty simple to contribute to Halifax’s effort to document our natural world and illustrate citizen’s love of that world.
Participants photograph a nature observation of a “species” (e.g.a robin, or a flower) within the boundaries of HRM within the Apr 28-May 1 timeframe and upload it to iNaturalist. (HRM refers to Halifax Regional Municipality, now just called Halifax. It encompasses all of Halifax County.) Cape Breton Regional Municipality is the other NS participant. Continue reading
Charlie will be leading a trip to Smiley’s Provincial Park. This is a focused walk to see a Nature Trust property with Hazelnut in bloom and leatherwood shrub in Smiley’s Park as well as the general destruction caused by last year’s flooding. Because the bridge on Clayton Mckay Rd. below the entrance to the park is still washed out, approach only from Ashdale or along Hwy 14 (any direction) and follow road signs to the Park.
Meet at the Entrance to Smiley’s Park at 10:00hrs.. 2-4 hrs.Bring water, snacks, binoculars, cameras. Wear hiking boots or any waterproof footwear and dress in layers ( may be quite warm).
Charles Cron will be leading a nature hike to support the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge on Friday April 26. It will be along a little used trail on Long Lake Provincial Park.
Meet 12:00 Noon; Dunbrack street. Part of Long lake trail system. Best route is from the Armdale Roundabout,St Margaret’s Bay Road to Dunbrack connector,turn left on the connector,go to Dunbrack, turn Right onto Dunbrack heading towards the Old Sambro Road. Follow the Metal Roadguard about 1/4 KM on the right,at the end of the barrier there is space for roadside Parking for 10-12 or more cars.; Meet at the roadside trailhead (2 entrances within sight of one another,both go to the same single file trail). There are multiple loops possible,plan about 2hrs. Wear hiking boots or any waterproof footwear.Bring Water,snacks ,binoculars and cameras,Dress for the weather in layers. Please contact ccron72@hotmail.com if you plan to attend.
Charlie’s cell phone 902 430 4785. (I cannot answer when driving and will need to stop if possible, so if no answer wait 5 minutes and call again.)
Saturday, 27 April, 2024, 9:00AM: Halifax Field Naturalists City Nature Challenge Walk (CNC) (iNaturalist)
Dr. Sean Haughian, Curator of Botany and interdisciplinary ecologist at the Nova Scotia Museum, has graciously offered to lead a HFN CNC walk on Saturday, April, 27th. Due to Sean’s very considerable experience and nature knowledge, this walk presents an excellent opportunity for all to learn of nature’s secrets. The walk will take us through Hemlock Ravine’s diverse areas with a wide variety of plants for the CNC records. On this walk, he’ll concentrate on locating and identifying different species of moss and lichen along the way. He recommends we bring a 10 x 16 hand-lens (loupe). He will take along a few spare loupes with him.
Note: registration is required for communication purposes and because attendee numbers may be limited. Also note, for CNC (iNaturalist) purposes your iNaturalist identification information is required when registering. It’s worth testing the app prior to the walk and anyone needing iNaturalist set-up help please contact Mary Kennedy at cnc2019hrm@gmail.com
Rain Date: Sunday, April 28
Contact: Bernie McKenna, 902-434-3202, or mckennab197@gmail.com
Time: Place: 9:00 am start / Hemlock Ravine Park, 40 Kent Ave. Halifax
Directions: Kent Ave. is west off of Bedford Highway
Difficulty: Moderate off-trail walking, waterproof footwear (rubber boots) and warm clothing is recommended. Also, ticks are out and about.
Duration: 2 – 3 hrs.
Saturday, 27 April, 2024, 1:00PM: David Patriquin – City Nature Challenge Walk (CNC) (iNaturalist) at Sandy Lake
Details are at: http://versicolor.ca/
May be full
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