The Botany Group visited Bear Creek Nature Park on March 3. The focus was on the plants and plant communities of a beautiful second growth bigleaf maple and conifers forest. The walk included a short floodplain section and a very dry little plateau. As in other recent outings, many of the observations were of mosses, liverworts and lichens, but the group also looked for early signs of spring among the vascular plants..

You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12.6 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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Members of the Botany Group enjoyed a field trip to the Nymph Falls trails along the Puntledge River on February 3. The trip was repeated on February 7 with an invitation for public participation.

In the mild winter conditions (no snow), the group studied various plant communities in the area which consists mainly of second-growth Douglas-fir and western redcedar forest. The focus was mainly on the many mosses and lichens to be seen on living trees, the forest floor, and on stumps and logs. A few forbs, fungi and slime molds were also observed.

You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 10.2 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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A small contingent of botany enthusiasts enjoyed an outing on the trails adjacent to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds (a.k.a. the Tsolum River flats) on January 13, 2026. The main focus was on the mosses, which are beautiful at this time of year, but other features of the area were also observed—trees and shrubs, identified by their shapes and other winter characteristics; liverworts; and a small number of fungi.

Véronique, the co-leader of the Botany Group, has again prepared a photographic guide to many of the species seen. You can download the guide here (PDF, 5.1 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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On December 2, the Botany Group met at Kitty Coleman Provincial Park to explore both a typical Douglas-fir forest and the estuary at this coastal location. The focus was on the lush mosses and on signs of both winter setting in (but with no snow yet) and optimistic preparations for spring. The group also looked at ways to identify trees without their leaves and at a few fungi, lichens, and slime molds. The trip was repeated on December 6.

You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12.9 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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On October 14, the Botany Group explored part of the very pleasant Mama Bear Trail in Cumberland Community Forest. The focus of the trip was on the lush ferns and mosses, as well as the early fungi that the recent rains had brought out.

You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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The Shoreline and Marine Group of CVN enjoyed several wonderful field trips this season. Here is a highlight from our trip to Quinsam River Hatchery and hike along the Quinsam nature trail on September 9.

We were able to view black bears catching salmon at both the hatchery fence and downstream.

This bear studied our group carefully before venturing into the river to get her salmon. Our guide, Kyle Fitzpatrick from Greenways Land Trust, explained that when fish are this plentiful, the bears will selectively eat the most nutritious parts of the salmon—the brains and internal organs.

Thanks to Kathleen Wilkinson for these photos from one of our most memorable Shoreline & Marine moments in 2025.

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On August 9, a small contingent (two leaders and one member) from the Botany Group enjoyed a mid- to late-summer field trip to Paradise Meadows. This subalpine environment (elevation 1200 m) offers many plants different from those at lower levels. At this point in the season, a good number of plants were still flowering, but attention was also given to identification using leaves, fruits, branching patterns, and general habit where flowering was finished. We also considered distinctions between some related species—for example, subalpine fir vs. amabilis fir, slender rein orchid vs. fragrant white rein orchid, and dwarf blueberry vs. bog blueberry. And we studied the characteristics of many other plants in the varied habitats of the Meadows.

Co-leader Véronique has again provided us with a photographic guide to many of the observed species. You can download the guide here (PDF, 7.4 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

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