Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society

Because of the limitations of the ban on hiking in the woods due to the current drought conditions, the trip to Yarmouth and SW Nova Scotia scheduled for August 22-25 has been cancelled. However, we will be doing a day trip to the lakeshore by Jeremy’s Bay campground in Kejimkujik National Park on Saturday Aug. 23 to look for the Manyflowered Marshpennywort in bloom. Please contact bob@grimsey.ca if you are interested in joining us.

Photo: Jennifer Clifford – iNaturalist

Lyonia ligustrina is commonly known as Maleberry or, on iNaturalist as He-Huckleberry. It is related to blueberries and huckleberries, but is extremely rare in Canada. In fact there is only one known site which is about 40 minutes outside Yarmouth. Several members have been to see the plant, but not when it has been in bloom – so this is a field trip to the known site to try to find it in bloom.

It is a bit tricky to find the road entrance to the Maleberry, so Peter and Charles have suggested we all meet at the Petro-Can in Tusket at 10:00AM on Saturday July 19 and head off together from there. Exit Highway 103 at exit 33 and head south on highway 308 for a short distance to the Petro-Can on the left.

It is suggested that people travelling a distance stay overnight at the Comfort Inn in Yarmouth on July 18 (or another place of your choosing). For those staying overnight in Yarmouth on Friday or living nearby, we will organize a dinner together.

If you have not already registered, please contact us at novascotiawildflora@gmail.com. Let us know if you will be staying over on Friday and if you will be joining us for dinner.

Due to the light rain forecast throughout the day on Saturday and the better conditions on Sunday, Jeremy has agreed to move the hike to West Head to Sunday June 29. We will meet at the trail-head at the end of West Head Rd, running south from Lockport at 10:30. Car pooling will be from the Museum of Natural History and the Keshen Goodman Public Library (Clayton Park), leaving at 8:00AM. If you are planning to carpool, but have not let us know, please do so. Jeremy’s car, leaving from the museum, is now full.

Peter Steiner will also be on the hike. He has a new job at Coastal Action, focused on helping manage the vegetation surveys at the Pemsɨk site (also known as Jones Harbour). They’re working on behalf of some Indigenous groups, including Melissa Labrador. He is inviting whoever is interested for a saltmarsh wander at  nearby Pemsɨk  after the West Head hike.

If at any time you need to contact me, my cell is 902 719-8456 – Bob Kennedy

Photo François Rochette

Jeremy Lundholm will be leading a nature hike to West Head on Saturday June 28. We will meet at the parking lot at the end of Western Head road at 10:30AM. Location on Google Maps is 43.662407, -65.128822.

There will be the opportunity to car pool from the Museum of Natural History parking lot, leaving at 8:00AM. Other people are also informally arranging rides. If you are able to offer a lift or need a lift, please let us know.

We will explore the barrens and shoreline plant communities at West Head, south of Lockeport, newly acquired by the Nature Conservancy. There are several types of shrubland barrens vegetation, as well as some dwarf heath (black crowberry), coastal meadow and cobble shoreline communities. We will conduct an inventory and see if we can add some species to the plant list. We are likely to see orchids in flower (no guarantees!), including Grass Pink, Rose Pogonia, Club Spur Orchid, Small Purple Fringed Orchid and Ragged Fringed Orchid. One of our members, Joanne Cormier, has mentioned that we shouldn’t be surprised to see Storm Petrel wing tips. Owls hang out there for a petrel party, when the Leach’s Storm Petrels are coming off the sea en route to Bon Portage.

It’s approximately a 1 km hike to the tip of the headland. Trail conditions are somewhat rugged and could be wet. Bring lunch and water, and be prepared for ticks!

Please contact us at novascotiawildflora@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

If anything comes up on the day, you can reach Bob on his cell at 902 719-8456

NCC West Head Plant List