The Secwepemc Use Of Wild Plants
This informative article on plant use by the Secwepemc is from Jim Cooperman’s blog, Shuswap Passion.
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Alaska Rein Orchid
It is always enjoyable to share a new discovery even if it is a common thing that one should have seen before now. I was doing some recent field work south of Merritt in Douglas Fir forests. I was with botanist Kristi Iverson as I was nosing around in the understory of pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens.) I noticed several individual stalks of a tall, slender orchid that was unfamiliar to me, but Kristi quickly identified it as the Alaska rein-orchid (Piperia unalascensis) and introduced me to its delightful scent. You have … Continue reading →
Club Members Pulled Burdock At McArthur Island
Submitted by Margaret Graham. Photos by Adele Stapleton and Richard Doucette A group of 10 club members answered the call to pull the common burdock (Arctium minus) around the Nature Walk at McArthur Island. A variety of tools were used to remove the deep-rooted plants and we filled a number of large garbage bags in a couple of hours, finishing just before the rain started. In the holes left by the burdock, Jesse Ritcey planted some little tarragon plants (Artemisia dracunculus) which is the host plant for a type of … Continue reading →
Field Trip to Lac Du Bois and Isobel Lake
Contributed by Ellie Hill & Margaret Graham with photos by Adele Stapleton and plant identification by Jesse Ritcey Cooler weather prevailed as our Naturalist Club group ventured forth on Sunday, June 3 to explore the grasslands of Lac Du Bois, hoping for a day of glorious scenery, vibrant wildflowers, and cooperative birds. As always, the area did not disappoint and as we stopped at roadside ponds and lakes we saw a variety of birds, including common loon, red-necked grebe, lesser scaup, ruddy duck, northern shoveler, American wigeon, gadwall, bufflehead, Barrow’s … Continue reading →
Dallas-Barnhartvale Nature Park
Hank and I went to the Dallas-Barnhartvale Nature Park today. In the restored wetland, this elderberry is unfurling. The delicate green ball, cradled by purple leaves, will later differentiate into hundreds of creamy-white flowers. And these flowers will eventually develop into berries for black bears to eat. (And! those purple leaves will turn green soon.)
Continue reading →Barnes Lake Trails with Hank
Hank & I have been getting to know the Barnes Lake Trails. Yesterday, we arrived during light showers, and as the sun came and went, I photographed sagebrush galls while Hank did whatever he likes to do. Near the lake, I came across an excited Say’s phoebe on top of a Douglas-fir.
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