Greetings all, Group Report:
Botany Group walked from the Oyster River
On Monday 11th the Botany Group walked from the Oyster River to Salmon Point – and took two and a half hours (!!) for the approximately 2 kilometer trail since there was so much in bloom.
The early female cones on the Hemlock and Douglas fir were striking in their purple and red tones. Douglas fir cone below.
Douglas fir cone
Of the shrubs noteworthy were the yellow flowers of the twin berry (Lonicera involucrata) and the delicate white and red bells of the wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum). The latter is exemplified by a huge bush right beside the trail – see below:
wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum)
Wildflowers included Hooker’s fairybells, at least four species of Claytonia, the tiny blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora) , pink twink (Phlox gracilis) , beach spurry (Spergulia salina) and many others. Fawn lilies appears along the river, as well as this stunning patch of white ones (Erythronium ore
Fawn lilies
gonum) as one starts along the beach trail.
Other News:
According to Terry Thormin the spring gold and red maids are blooming, and the camas is in bud on DND property at the end of the runway on Knight Road. The camas on Hornby (Grassy point) are already in bloom, along with the Menzies larkspur, spring gold and otehr Garry Oak ecosystem plants.
Next Group Meeting:
Our next gathering will be on April 25th, when Helen Robinson will head a preliminary foray to
Maple Lake to begin the plant inventory of the area. Meet at the church on Harmston at 10.00 am.
Alison
