CVN Facebook Posts
The CVN photo group met last night for its September meeting and here are a few of the photos we shared with one another.Species and photographer shown in each photo...
Join the Comox Valley Conservation Community for a day long celebration of the watersheds and waterways that connect us all in the Comox Valley!Learn about restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries – and so much more. Art projects, kids activities, volunteer engagement opportunities, hands on learning and guided walks – all looking out over the beautiful Puntledge River.Comox Valley Nature will be there with our new outreach tent. Come by and say hello, and try our bird identification game. We can also show you why native plants are best for your garden, and how to spot invasive species.Pack a picnic and stay for the day! Saturday Sept 19th from 9 am – 3 pmin Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay
In her memoir, Pacific Northwest author Caroll Simpson recounts the highs and lows of running a remote fishing lodge on her own following the untimely death of her husband, and of falling in love with the natural world. Simpson tells stories of living in the remote wilderness and managing the lodge, becoming an accidental environmental activist, fending off wild animals, working as an angling guide and finally, fighting off a proposed mining operation and participating in the development of a government land management plan as a spokesperson for the wilderness tourism industry.While Simpson welcomed paying guests at Ookpik Lodge, unwanted house guests included a woodchuck, a pack rat, and martens. Simpson constantly had to watch out for grizzlies, moose, and cougars. Storms and extreme weather also provided fodder for hair-raising tales. All this makes for wonderful storytelling.Caroll’s story is essentially a love story. In an essay for Sierra Club, Simpson wrote: “I developed an immense passion for flora and fauna. Just walking back and forth on the 300’ dock several times a day, I was exposed to the unbelievable beauty of the northern spectrum of water life: the golden eagle soaring above, the osprey and kingfisher diving and coming up with fish for their hatchlings, the muskrats and otters looking for an easy meal, the tireless beaver working into the late evening sunsets. All of these creatures and more expressed their generational ownership of this small piece of the world. In return each was given my utmost respect and admiration…As I listened to the loons at the end of each day and the owl and the wolf in the night, I felt blessed to be witnessing such beauty. “On September 20th, join Comox Valley Nature and Save Our Forests Team for an afternoon of storytelling about this remarkable time spent living on a remote British Columbia lake.The event is being held at the Comox United Church Hall. (250 Beach Drive, Comox) Admission is by donation. Doors open at 2:30; the event begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation, as well as books available for purchase. Tea/coffee and cookies - including forest-themed cupcakes - will be available for a donation.Join us, and prepare to fall in love.
🎟️ Get your tickets to the Project Watershed 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/Every ticket holder makes a difference. 💙 🎟️ Get your tickets to our 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/When community and local businesses invest in conservation, our entire ecosystem benefits. Ticket sales directly support habitat restoration, scientific research, and environmental education, while the generosity of our sponsors helps offset event costs, ensuring that more of the funds raised can go directly toward this important work. Thank you to our incredible sponsors and dinner attendees for believing in the power of community-led conservation. Odlum Brown Community and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, 40 Knots Winery, CNB Together, we're keeping our watersheds living. 🌿 Hope to see you September 12, 5 - 8 pm at 40 KNOTS Winery #KeepingItLiving #ProjectWatershed #CommunitySupport #Conservation #ComoxValley
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15.
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Fungi from Strathcona Park
This report by Alison M. was distributed to the Botany Group by Jocie on November 5. Click a photo to enlarge it. In the last week of October we have been into three locations in the Park in the hopes … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Fungi from Strathcona Park
Botany highlights from upper Puntledge trails
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 29. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last Saturday we walked along the east side of the upper Puntledge River trails. We took a look at the bog, and … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany highlights from upper Puntledge trails
A few mushrooms
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. Though fungi are currently scarce, here are a few photos from Alison M. of what she’s seen this fall in the Buttle Lake … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on A few mushrooms
Woodhus Slough botany photos
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 16. Photos by Veronique. Click a photo to enlarge it. Our last walk was a lovely morning at Woodhus Slough on October 3. Thanks to Veronique for the photos! … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Woodhus Slough botany photos
Another day in paradise!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 29. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last weekend the Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI) wrapped up its season with a walk around Paradise Meadows, which several of you joined … Continue reading
Posted in Amphibians and reptiles, Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Another day in paradise!
Albert Edward botany (part 2)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here’s the second instalment of the Mount Albert Edward plants and views (see the first part here). If I’ve miss-identified any plants … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Albert Edward botany (part 2)
Albert Edward botany (part 1)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. Reflecting back over the summer (as one does, come Labour Day), one of our highlights was a backpack up Mount Albert Edward on … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Albert Edward botany (part 1)
More summer botany highlights
Notes and photos by Kim D. distributed by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 3. Click a photo to enlarge it. and 2. Pacific goldenthread. A dodder, likely Cuscuta salina, which parasitizes plants in the Goosefoot family, especially pickleweed (in … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on More summer botany highlights
Summer botanizing!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on August 30. On July 22-23 I attended Botany BC (along with some of you) and we had a lot of fun looking at subalpine plants. Here are a few highlights from … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Summer botanizing!
More fabulous plants!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on May 25. Here are a few examples of our amazing local flora, courtesy of John B., with some habitat notes [click a photo to enlarge it]: Small-flowered woodland star (Lithophragma … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
Comments Off on More fabulous plants!
