NSWFS Zoom Meeting: Mon Sep 23, 2024 Restoring Land Through Nature-Based Strategies

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

The Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society invites you to our next members’ meeting, online on Monday Sept 23, 2024 at 7:30 pm.This is a zoom only meeting. If you are an current NSWFS member, or guest, you will receive a Zoom link to the meeting by email.

Join Rosmarie Lohnes, CEO of the award-winning Ecological Restoration company Helping Nature Heal Inc. for an insightful presentation on “Restoring Land Through Nature-Based Strategies”. With over 20 years of experience, Lohnes discusses innovative approaches to land restoration that promote the use of native species and natural methods to adapt to the changing climate. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how we can work in harmony with nature to create resilient environments for future generations.

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Revised Field trip to Blanche Penninsula Sat Sept 14, weather day Sunday Sep 15

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

Blanche Island and Blanche Peninsula

Note the directions below have been updated.

The NSWFS is planning a field trip to the Blanche Peninsula ( Cape Negro island included). This is a potential new purchase for Nature Trust NS.

A Burrowing owl has been reported in the area; plan is to search and photo if possible: also preliminary exploration of area for plants.

About 3hrs from Halifax. Take hwy 103 to route 309 to exit 28 at Clyde River. Follow 309 to Port Clyde, cross the bridge there and continue south on 309 through Thomasville and Cape Negro (now known as Cape Eel). Blanche Road is on your left (south). Eric suggests we meet there as a group and then proceed south to Blanche which is about another 8 km from the turnoff.

Charles will be leading the trip. He says he has not been there before and does not know the road conditions, but Eric Mills is familiar with the area and will assist us. This will be real exploration. About 4-6 Hrs. then return to Halifax.

I am looking for volunteers from NSWFS to help explore the area.

Maybe a report to Nature Trust with photos.

Please call me to register in case of cancelation  etc.   902 477 8272  or 902 430-4785   cell . Weather looks good sun/cloud both days.

 

See more about it here https://nsnt.ca/campaigns/blanche-peninsula/

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Message from The Outdoor Learning School

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

We are not familiar with this organization, but wished to pass on their reach-out to us in case any members might be interested. 

Bob

Good Morning – as an organization involved in growing sustainability, we wanted to share some of our new and upcoming opportunities and resources:

  1. Free Virtual Outdoor Learning Workshops: Begins September 17th
  2. Outdoor and Indigenous Learning Online Courses: Begins in October
  3. Gardening and Growing Resources & Tools for all ages
We invite you to share these with others who you think would be interested. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!
Duncan Whittick, Executive Director
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Trip to Forchu, Canso Barrens, Port Bickerton

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

Juncus caesariensis – New Jersy Rush

On Wednesday Aug. 14, NSWFS members Bob Kennedy and Jeff White are planning a hike near Forchu, Cape Breton to look for the rare New Jersey Rush. The next day we plan to be in Black Duck Provincial Park to hike into the Canso Barrens. Both of these hikes will be multi-kilometre long slogs, bushwacking through either bogs or underbrush. On our way home in the afternoon of Aug. 15, we plan to stop by the Port Bickerton Lighthouse to look for a colony of Seabeach Groundsel. This should be a moderate stroll.

This is not a sanctioned NSWFS activity, just a couple of members planning a trip together. But if anybody wants to join us for some or all of this, please contact bob@grimsey.ca

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Maps of thinned and as yet un-thinned forest at Point Pleasant Park 20Jul2024

Posted on July 20, 2024 by admin

Forested Area in PPP that was blown down by Hurricane in 2003, exhibited vigorous re-growth and was thinned in 2020.  Photo in early evening of May 27, 2024

Our Members’ annual Outdoors Meeting was held at PPP (Point Pleasant Park) on May 27, 2024.   We planned that, after a brief meeting, we would  look at sites where the forest had been thinned (2019 or 2020), and at sites that were as yet un-thinned. (Both are in areas that were largely blown down during Hurricane Juan and that have exhibited vigorous re-growth,)

View the Background to Thinning for some info  the thinning in PPP, and at NSWFS Outdoor Meeting at PPP for a few pics from our evening meeting.

A few of us arrived early and examined a  thinned area not far from the  from Tower Road parking lot before proceeding to the meeting at the Prince of Wales Martello Tower at 6:30 p.m.

After a brief meeting, the assembled group (about 15) walked areas that had not yet been thinned lying below Martello Tower (i.e. southwest, towards the Arm). As is usual on our NSWFS outings, there were lots of botanical distractions and it was getting dark by the time we again walked by the thinned areas. Continue reading →

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Upcoming Eagle Hill Field Seminar: Leaf and Stem Mining Insects

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

Title: Leaf and Stem Mining Insects
Instructor: Charley Eiseman
Dates: August 4–10, 2024
Description: Leaf and stem miners are insect larvae that feed within the tissues of plants for at least part of their development, forming externally visible feeding patterns (mines). In North America, they include well over 2000 species of moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies. They tend to be highly host-specific, feeding on one or a few closely related plant genera, and each miner leaves a species-specific pattern as it feeds. It is therefore generally possible to identify these insects by noting the host plant and studying the mine characteristics. This course will introduce students to the identification and biology of leaf and stem miners. On field trips, we will visit a variety of habitats to observe and collect mines from as many different plant species as possible. In the lab, we will use the hostplant-based keys in Leafminers of North America to identify what we have found. Slideshow presentations will give overviews of the many groups of leaf and stem mining insects and their natural history. We will also discuss how to rear leaf and stem miners to adults, with a brief introduction to the various types of parasitoid wasps that inevitably emerge in the process.

REGISTER HERE
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Otter Ponds iNaturlaist BioBlitz Sat July 6, 2024

Posted on June 28, 2024 by admin

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Nature Trust Hike, Acaciaville June 17

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

Nature Trust is conducting a hike on Sat. June 17 at their new Acaciaville properties: 2 field trips one at 10:00 hrs and a second at 14:00hrs. Registration required. About 2.5 hrs from Halifax.

Upcoming Events

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Orchids in Bloom

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

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

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Searching for the 3 flowered (on one stem) violet

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Bob Kennedy

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.

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