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Many people fear trees, especially big trees, and old trees. Join us on this guided walk and overcome those fears. Verna Mumby (ISA certified arborist), will take us through the basics of tree bio-mechanics; how trees dance and move, how they withstand wind loads, and the importance of tree roots. Understand how trees help each other during storms and how they communicate. This walk will take place in Filberg Park, Comox, on October 17th, from 11 a.m. to 12:30.This walk is on flat ground, on grass and well maintained paths. Check the weather and choose appropriate outerwear. The workshop will be cancelled in the event of strongwinds and heavy rain.REGISTRATION required using the link in our bio, or visit cvnature.ca/events/This event is free. Donations welcome.For more information, to add your name to a waitlist or to cancel your reservation, mail: . Details re meeting place will be sent to registrants.
Autumn is fast upon us, and the trees in the Comox Valley are beginning their transition into the winter season. CVN’s Comox Valley Trees team (formerly Trees of the Year) is inviting you to share how your favourite trees are changing with the season and preparing for the winter ahead. It could be a brilliant display of autumn foliage, a production of fruit, nuts or berries, or as a winter haven for wildlife. As the leaves fall, do they reveal an interesting or unique tree architecture, shape or silhouette? Perhaps you have discovered trees of interest in forgotten spaces or unusual or unexpected places, or trees with fungi or lichen.Send us the story of why you selected your tree of note. Include a brief description of the tree, a photograph, and the geographical location of the best viewing spot. Ideally the tree is in a public location to facilitate viewing.Please send your story to We will share your stories on our website and on CVN’s Facebook and Instagram pages.Also, be sure to check CVN’s Events calendar regularly for other Comox Valley Trees events such as knowledge walks.#treestories #comoxvalley #comoxvalleytrees #autumn
Hands Off Old Growth, this Sunday October 4th in Simms Park:
Join Comox Valley Nature for a walk to celebrate Comox trees on Saturday, October 3, 2026. We will meet in the parking lot of the Comox Tennis Courts at 1:00 p.m. This 1.5 to 2 hour walk will be led by tree lovers Alora Griffin and Barbara Neilson. The number of participants is limited, and registration is required. RSVP on our events page at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/We will walk beneath the graceful boughs of some of Comox’s glorious trees, while enjoying their surroundings and the ambience they create for us. The trees selected will include examples of all the native trees now protected by the Town of Comox, as well as some exotic trees.We will discuss their biological features and historical significance as we amble along Brooklyn Creek and through Filberg Park and other parts of Comox. The path through Brooklyn Creek is uneven and there are stairs to climb. Bring your curiosity and questions as well as a water bottle and sun or rain protection, if needed. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Children are welcome but please leave your furry friends at home, except for service dogs.This event is free, but donations are welcome.
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) is a top-level avian predator in mature and old coastal rainforests and is considered an indicator species of these habitats, as well as an indicator of forest health and biodiversity.Over half of the global range of this subspecies occurs in coastal British Columbia, where it favours mature coniferous forest. This non-migratory bird needs a relatively large home range that contains a good food supply. Despite some recent habitat protection efforts, continuing habitat loss is predicted, in part because of anticipated short rotation times in forest harvest. On Haida Gwaii, populations are very low and face an added risk from declines of prey species due to forest understory losses associated with high levels of browsing from an introduced population of deer.The Gitsegukla Huwilp of the Gitxsan.have drafted a petition to call for the legal protection of Northern Goshawks. These birds are keystone species in the Skeena Natural Resource Region which covers northwest British Columbia and includes the northern half of the Great Bear Rainforest. The coastal subspecies of Northern Goshawk on Haida Gwaii is the most vulnerable.The petition urges the Province of British Columbia to recognize and implement Regionally Important Wildlife protection for the Northern Goshawk. To sign please go to form.jotform.com/261745367749068For more information on the Goshawk visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessm...
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Botany quiz #1: Trees
From emails by Jocie to the Botany Group on December 1 and 5. To keep you on your toes, here is a short quiz featuring deciduous trees in autumn (large and small, and a few that may be classified as … Continue reading
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Sunday pancakes?
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 29. My family enjoys pancakes on a Sunday morning, but I didn’t expect to find pancakes in the woods. Wandering about in the Miracle Beach Park campground, I came … Continue reading
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Toothed fungi, part 1
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 22. Alison M. has put together an informative overview of some of the toothed fungi: hydnums and hydnellums. [Click a photo to enlarge it.] Alison’s notes Well into November … Continue reading
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Winter chanterelles and blue-turning coral
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 21. Photo 1 shows a harvest of winter chanterelles or yellow foot (Craterellus tubaeformis) from Kate. This is a smaller, more delicate species of chanterelle that often has a dimple … Continue reading
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Late bloomers, etc.
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 18. Here’s a note from Sharon that will be of interest, along with a lovely photo of gumweed, a “late bloomer” [click the photo to enlarge it]: The Kamloops … Continue reading
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Colourful Cortinarius
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 14. Cortinarius is the biggest genus of gilled mushrooms in the world, with thousands of species. The Pacific coast is a hotspot for “corts,” with a rich abundance and diversity. A … Continue reading
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Fly agarics and more!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 10. [Click a photo to enlarge it.] Here are some fly agarics (Amanita muscaria) growing in an unusual spot! (More down the hole, but I didn’t look too closely.) You never … Continue reading
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Plums-and-custard and the decorated mop
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 8. The “shroom season” is winding down, and we will move on to other topics soon, but not quite yet! Here are a few fungi in the genus Tricholomopsis. As … Continue reading
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Death caps in Comox Valley
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 7. Many of you have likely heard about the discovery of the death cap mushroom in the Comox Valley. Here is some more information from Alison M.: Re: the … Continue reading
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Social distancing?
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 31. During these days of social distancing it’s heartening to see troops of gregarious fungi gathering in the woods…quite heedless of human disasters. Here are some groups and clusterings I’ve … Continue reading
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