Featured Gallery # 2
We feature a second photo gallery of shots taken by member Glenn Dreger. Hover your cursor for a caption or click for a full-sized image:
Continue reading →Likely New Mushroom Species Record for the Province
A few days ago, Glen Dreger sent me two pictures of a large mushroom he collected near Tunkwa Lake. I sent the photos to a mycologist colleague in Vancouver and he suggested that it was Neolentinus lepideus, having the common name of the “Train-Wrecker.” The common name derives from the fact that it is tolerant of several wood preservatives used to treat railroad ties, including creosote. In earlier days, before our current more effective wood preservatives, it was an important cause of rot in ties. This species is recorded as … Continue reading →
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 →
Field Trip to Joan Best’s House and the New Wetland
Submitted by Margaret Graham. Photos by Adele Stapleton Two carloads of 8 ladies made the long trek along the Red Lake Road to Joan Best’s home in the Tranquille Valley. Having heard about Joan’s adventures in this isolated acreage where she has lived for 23 years, we were curious to see it before someone buys it as Joan has finally made the decision to move closer to town. We admired her little greenhouse and gazebo which she built herself. The garden was neat and tidy with a variety of flowers, … Continue reading →
Field Trip To Rose Hill And Goose Lake Road
Submitted by Margaret Graham. Photos by Steve Schmidt except where noted. Sunday, June 17 was a perfect day for a drive along country roads to look for birds. We started at the bottom of Rose Hill Road and made our first stop at the water tower where we climbed to the lookout to admire the view of Kamloops and the South Thompson River valley. It appears that this is a great party place so we spent some time picking up cans and bottles to add to our coffers.
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 →