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At our upcoming general meeting we will host Dr Gerry Allen who will speak to us about plant diversity in BC and BioblitzesBC has the highest plant diversity in Canada due to the high diversity of ecosystems. The BC Conservation Data Centre maintains a complete and regularly revised list of all plant species in the province (whether common or rare, native or not). However, we want to know more than just the list. Where are species found? In what habitats? Are they becoming more common or less? Bioblitzes (concentrated searches for species in a particular time and place) provide new information, especially for less well-known groups like mosses and lichens. Dr. Allen will describe some plant biodiversity results from recent bioblitzes on Calvert and Quadra islands. She will also discuss rare species, which typically require more targeted searches. An example is the discovery of many new populations of the currently threatened Hibberson’s trillium (Trillium hibbersonii). Continuing field observations by knowledgeable observers are an essential part of these discoveries and are critical to keeping diversity assessments current.
Dr. Gerry Allen is a retired professor of biology but continues working on a number of ongoing projects. Her research is broadly focused on the evolution, ecology and conservation biology of plants. Current and recent projects in her lab include the ecology of arctic-alpine plants, especially migration in response to post-glacial climate change, and the reproductive ecology of rare plants. She was also the curator of the University of Victoria Herbarium for many years.
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and video conference). We encourage members and the public to attend the in-person meeting. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to join the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.
After the keynote presentation there will be a break with coffee/tea, goodies and socializing, followed by the business part of the meeting. This consists mainly of brief reports from our interest groups and projects, an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
Courtenay Rotary Trail Pulling Together event:Date: Saturday, October 25 from 1:00 to 3:30
Join friends and neighbours in clearing English ivy along the Rotary Trail and in Dogwood Park.
Bring garden gloves hand pruners and a garden fork or digging shovel if you have them. Bring water to drink, dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Max 12 people
Meet at the junction of Courtenay Rotary Trail and the end of 21 St Courtenay.
To add your name to the wait list or a list for future Pulling Together work parties or to cancel your reservation, please email Karen at
Caring for Trees in a time of Drought.Saturday, October 25th from 11:00 to 12:30
This summer's drought was hard on plants in our environment. The trees in your yard may have responded to this stress. Our next knowledge walk will help you to learn how to keep your trees healthy and thriving.
Join Verna Mumby as we look at the effects of drought and climate change on trees.
This knowledge walk will be held on a semi-rural property in east Courtenay. Taking these trees as a sample, we will look for signs of drought stress, and indications of healthy growth. We will examine factors such as hydrology, disease vectors and soil compaction.
We will discuss watering and other methods of mitigating stress.
Meeting location will be sent before the walk.
Bring binoculars to examine higher branches. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground and over tree roots and rocks.
This walk will be cancelled if winds are high.
Register at our events page cvnature.ca/eve#TreeoftheYeare#comoxvalleya#treest#urbanforesto#droughtought
The Comox Valley Nature photo group was at it again last night.Here are a few of the many great shots and associated stories that were told. Species and photographer revealed as you look at each photo.
Join Comox Valley Naturalist Society botanists as we explore the Cumberland Community Forest on October 11th from 1 to 3:00 pm.Our focus will be on lush ferns and mosses, as well as the early fungi that the recent rains have brought out. The trail is gently sloping but do expect many thick and entangled roots. It can be slippery at times if it has rained recently.
Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. The walk is not a loop so if you need to shorten the walk you will need to retrace your steps.
Bring a hand lens if you have one, since mosses and many small plants look much better when enlarged. Binoculars used the “wrong” way make very good magnifiers.
This walk is free. Register at
Donations are welcome as they allow us to continue our programming.
There is a full heated washroom facility in the Cumberland Rec. Centre parking lot on Sutton Rd and Dunsmuir (entrance from Sutton Rd).No dogs allowed. Please do not come if you are ill. Thank you for your consideration.
Directions: From downtown Courtenay head south on Cliffe Avenue, past Driftwood Mall. Turn right onto Comox Valley Parkway. This will take you straight into Cumberland as it passes under Hwy 19. The Parkway becomes Cumberland Road. Continue down Cumberland road as it veers to the left and becomes 4th Street. Turn right onto Dunsmuir Ave at the Esso station. Follow Dunsmuir to Sutton Ave and turn left. At the bottom of the hill Sutton becomes Comox Lake Avenue and curves sharply to the right. Park on the verge of Comox Lake avenue. The entrance to the Cumberland Community Forest is at the sharp turn. Walk south from the entrance for about 50 m until you see the interpretive sign marking the trails where we’ll meet.
#cumberlandcommunityforest
#botany #comoxvalley
Category Archives: Field Trips
Botany at Paradise Meadows, August 2024
The always fascinating Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park was the destination for the Botany Group’s field trip on August 6. The focus species for this outing are all found only at elevations above 300 metres: Sitka alder, yellow-cedar, green … Continue reading
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Botany at Rosewall Creek Park, July 2024
The Botany/Mycology Group’s July field trip was popular with members. On July 2, the group observed a variety of plants and fungi in the lower part of Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, with a particular eye out for these species: eyelash … Continue reading
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Botany at Comox Lake Eco Reserve, June 2024
A small contingent of Botany/Mycology Group members enjoyed the group’s June field trip to the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve on June 4. They explored both the forested area adjacent to the reserve and trails inside the reserve leading to … Continue reading
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Mycoheterotrophs at Puntledge forest, June 2024
The identification guide linked here was updated on July 13 with a few minor changes, replacing the version that was posted originally. The Botany/Mycology Group held an extra outing in June (on June 12) at the Puntledge forest with the … Continue reading
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Botany at Little River, May 2024
The Botany/Mycology Group’s May field trip took place on May 14 at Little River Nature Park and was well-attended. This CVRD nature park has three special ecosystems which the group explored: Many of the spring flowers on the beach plain … Continue reading
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Botany at MacDonald Wood and Mack Laing Parks, April 2024
The Botany/Mycology Group was privileged to have Marta Donovan lead the group in a very informative walk through MacDonald Wood Park and Mack Laing Nature Park in Comox on April 9. Marta is a professional botanist who recently retired after … Continue reading
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Botany at Tsolum floodplain trails, March 2024
The Botany/Mycology Group had a well-attended field trip on March 12 to the Tsolum River floodplain trails adjacent to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds to see signs of early spring growth. The new leaders of the group, Véronique M. and … Continue reading
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Kitty Coleman fungi (fall 2023)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on January 4. Catching up from our November 23 outing to Kitty Coleman Provincial Park…. We found a wealth of fungi — it was quite a treasure hunt. Joy said that the excitement level … Continue reading
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Mushrooms at Paradise Meadows in October
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on November 16. Click a photo to enlarge it. One of the highlights from our fungi trip to Paradise Meadows on October 20 was the handsome Admirable bolete (Aureoboletus mirabilis). The … Continue reading
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Merville Woods fungi
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on October 18. Click a photo to enlarge it. We had a great time looking at a bonanza of fungi at Merville Woods on October 12! I got a bit carried … Continue reading
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