Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society: Programme

Programme: Past Meetings and Events (2007-2010)

Sunday, January 21, 2007 - A visit to the Herbarium of Acadia University
Find out what the scientific value of a herbarium is, to education and science. For members only
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Place: K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, Acadia University, 32 University Ave., Wolfville
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032. Pre-registration required (limit of 10).

Monday, January 22, 2007 - Members slide night
This is the evening to bring those slides you would like to share with everyone. Brief slide presentations are fine: even just a couple of slides would be great. Mystery flora slides are always a lot of fun. A CD with digital prints can be shown on the Museum's DVD machine.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032. Please let her know how many slides you will be bringing.

Sunday, February 4, 2007 - Twigs and things
This is the perfect time of year to test your native plant identifying skills. Our president, Charlie Cron, doesn't want to stay indoors this winter, so his challenge is to identify shrubs and trees without their leaves. Join him on this winter field trip/outing. Immediately following we will meet at a local Tim Hortons for something warm and good conversation.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Frog Pond parking lot, Fleming Park, Purcells Cove Road
Storm date: Saturday, February 3, 2007
Contact: Charlie Cron, 477-8272

Monday, February 26, 2007 - Life in the Cracks
This project was coordinated by Dr. Jeremy Lundholm, a member of our society and educator at Saint Mary's University. A couple of our 2006 summer field trips were devoted to this project. In fields and waste places we recorded over 100 species, a few of them previously unreported in Nova Scotia.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

March, 2007
This is the month that Skunk Cabbage blooms. This field trip will be weather (and spring) - dependent, so no firm date can be set. It will likely be at the end of this month. Register with leader Charlie Cron (477-8272) and you will be notified close to the date. Be prepared for an all-day trip, as these plants grow in the Yarmouth area and on Long Island, Digby County.

Monday, March 26, 2007 - Experiencing spring in Crete
Mary and Chris Helleiner travelled to Crete last year fot the first two weeks of April. Their love of nature and wild flora will be depicted in this slide show. Highlights: wild tulips, cyclamen, bee orchids, anemones and their habitat.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032

Sunday, April 22, 2007 - Hepatica
The very rare Hepatica is expected to be in bloom at this time on North Mountain. For members only
This an all-day trip, so come prepared and bring your lunch.
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032. You will receive travel directions when you pre-register.

Monday, April 23, 2007 - Annual General Meeting and election of officers
This should take about 15 minutes, and will be followed by Spring flora - A slide show by Charlie Cron of the very early spring wild flowers, particularly Wood Anemone, Hepatica, Primula.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Monday, May 28, 2007 - Spring wildflowers at Lewis Lake Provincial Park, Upper Tantallon
We hope to see a variety of spring wildflowers. The park also has an interesting variety of shrubs and tree species. Bring along a copy of A.E. Roland < A. R. Olsen's Spring wildflowers (available at the NS Museum), if you have one, and insect repellent.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Lewis Lake Provincial Park, situated on Rte. 3, 4 km. south of Hwy. 103, Exit 5 east.
Contact: Barry Sawyer, 445-4938

Sunday, June 3, 2007 - Nature Nova Scotia Annual General Meeting
This year, because of its involvement in the 2007 Nature Canada conference, there will be a one-day Annual General Meeting and conference for Nature N.S. An afternoon field trip to a section of the Salmon River will feature the wild flora that grow there beneath the sandstone cliffs.
Time: 9 a.m. (refreshments before the 10 a.m. AGM)
Place: N.S. Community College, Truro, 36 Arthur Street, McCarthy Hall - Salon C.
For more details see Nature N.S. website: http://wwww.naturens.ca

Wednesday, June 6, 2007 - Evening walkabout at Bayers Lake Nature Reserve
We will find the traditional woodland plants of a mixed boreal forest, but also there are many shrubs worth identifying along the lake shore.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Chain Lake Drive on the opposite side of the road from the Recycling Depot in the direction of the St. Margaret's Bay Road. Meet at the entrance to the small park. You can park along the road, but not in the bus stop area.
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - Bog orchids at Belchers Pondbr /> A joint field trip with the Orchid Society of Nova Scotia, led by John MacDonald of OSNS. This is the pond and marsh area that Bob and Wendy McDonald have been exploring and for which they are compiling a list of plants.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032 or John MacDonald, 221-4033 for directions.

Saturday, July 21, 2007 - Lookoff Trail, Wentworth
Another shared event with the OSNS. Plan to see and photograph the large Platanthera macrophylla orchids on the higher slopes of the mountain. Some uphill walking. Wear good footwear and bring water and lunch with you.
Time: 11 a.m. to at least 2 p.m.
Place: Meet in the old train station yard, Wentworth Station Road, Wentworth, Cumberland County. No rain date
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032 (cell phone 440-5032, on the day of the event). Pre-registration is requested for this event.

August 1-5, 2007 - Acadia University in Wolfville will be hosting naturalists from across Canada at the Nature Canada Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting. The conference will include presentations during seminar sessions as well as a good variety of field trips. Pre- and post-conference nature tours will be offered. Updated information and registration material will be available at: http://www.nature2007.ca

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 - Hartlen Point, Eastern Passage
A joint field trip with OSNS, led by John MacDonald. The small purple fringed orchids are very plentiful out there. Easy walking and access. We are requested to contact John at 221-4033 to register and find out the meeting place.
Time: 2:00 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, August 25-26, 2007 - Tusket Coastal Plain Flora
Charles Cron will lead this field trip to his favourite places to view the Coastal Plain Flora. This is a three-hour drive from Halifax and will need an overnight stay. He will be checking out B<Bs in the area to recommend. Please register with him (477-8272, evenings only) to find out particulars.

Monday, September 24, 2007 - Old growth forests
Department of Environment and Labour's David MacKinnon will take us on a virtual tour of the Province's hardwood and softwood old growth forest Special Places.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax
Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032

Monday, October 22, 2007 - Digital plant photography
First, Ocotillo and JackPine will introduce our new website. Then David will talk about and illustrate some of the nuances of digital photography of plants; processing images for the web or for print; pros and cons of SLRs and non-SLR digital cameras; and the "digital herbarium" assignments he has developed for online classes. Bring your camera and contribute some of your own tricks of the trade.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Note: Several 'Parks are for People' events have interesting natural history aspects. See website: http://parks.gov.ns.ca/programs.htm

November 26, 2007 - Finding and photographing flowering plants in Nunavut, 1951-1964.
Dr.Ian McLaren will give a talk and slide show. Ian writes: "In the summer of 1951, through a series of lucky circumstances, I found myself aboard the motor-ketch "Calanus" exploring the marine biota of Ungava and Frobisher Bay - my first of 12 wonderful seasons in that marvelous part of Canada. Although I was mostly a committed birder, Lewis McIvor Terrill, well-known Montreal naturalist, had urged me to collect a representative series of flowering plants for his private collection, which I did. Subsequently I collected some for the McGill University and National herbaria, but did not really become "hooked" until I spent four months with my wife Bernice at a remote campsite on Frobisher Bay. Bernice paid much more attention to the local plants, and collected many more. That year, Ehrling Porsild's published the first edition of his Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and this abetted my primary leisure-time obsession during subsequent arctic seasons from James Bay to Ellesmere Island collecting plants and photographing many striking and some more obscure ones." This will be a presentation no one will want to miss!
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

January 28, 2008 - Members slide night.
This is the evening to bring those slides (or computer images) you would like to share with everyone. Miniature slide presentations are fine or even just a couple of slides would be great. Mystery flora slides are always a lot of fun.
Please contact Heather Drope at 423-7032 and let her know how many slides you will be bringing. If the images are on a computer, please put them in a common format (e.g., Power Point, Web Pages) and put it all on a CD &/or bring your own laptop. We will do our best to deal with them but some advance discussion of needs will help - please contact JackPine (4235716; patriqui@dal.ca) in that regard.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

February 17, 2008 - Twigs and Things (Field Trip)
This is the perfect time of year to test your native shrub identifying skills. Our president, Charlie Cron, doesn't want to stay in doors this winter so his challenge is to identify shrubs and trees without their leaves. Join him on this field trip to the Frog Pond,, Purcells Cove Road and have a winter outing. Immediately following we will meet at a local Tim Hortons for something warm and good conversation. Bring your camera if there has been a recent snow fall. Who knows what wonderful images await.
Time: 2 pm
Place: Place: Frog Pond parking lot, Fleming Park, Purcells Cove Road.
Contact: Charlie Cron 477-8272

February 25, 2008 - Flora of the South Korea Mountains.
Lloyd and Barbara McLean lived in South .Korea for a couple of years collectively and they took the opportunity to explore the mountain flora bringing home not just memories but photographic ones too! Lloyd and Barbara are naturalists and gardeners so we expect that they will bring both perspectives to this presentation.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

March 24, 2008 - Preserving Port Joli.
Danielle Wharton is working towards preserving the sensitive coastline and waters of this beautiful and scenic area of Nova Scotia. Port Joli hasn't been explored by this society but after Danielles presentation, we are sure we will want to organize a field trip there.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

March 30 - Skunk Cabbage in Bloom (Field Trip)
This is the month that Skunk Cabbage blooms. This field trip is weather and spring dependent so no firm date can be set. Please Register with Charlie Cron (477-8272) and you will be notified closer to the date. Be prepared for an all day trip as these plants bloom in Yarmouth area and on Long Island, Digby County.

April 28, 2008 - Indigenous & Alien Flora in HRM Parks
& Annual General Meeting
Following a brief AGM, Richard La Paix will talk about the conservation of indigenous flora within urban parks of HRM and how the distribution and abundance of indigenous and alien species are affected by environmental and anthropogenic factors. Richard is a MSc student in the Biology Dept. at Dalhousie University.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Sunday May18 - Cape Split spring wildflowers and hike. (Rain date Monday. May 19/08)
This is an all day trip. You may leave early by following the trail in reverse but you will be on your own. We plan to do the full round trip along the trail about 6 hrs. This is a classic area for spring ephemerals. Directions: as followsÉ.. Take Highway 101 from Halifax area, to Wolfville, you may take the Wolfvoille-Grand Pre exit and travel through Wolfville to the New Minas exit and turn right onto route 358 just opposite to a garden centre on the left, or go behind Wolfville on the 101 to the New Minas exit,then at the junction with the old highway, turn right at the lights, Garden center is on your right, then turn left onto Route 358. Pass through Port Williams, Canning and go uphill to the lookoff (follow the road signs to the Lookoff), then on to Scotts Bay. Go to the end of the road and meet in the Parking Lot at Scotts Bay at 9:00 AM. About 1 to 1 & 1/2 hrs from Halifax. Bring Lunch, water, cameras, field guides, etc. Dress for the weather. Check forecasts.
Time: 9 a.m.
Place: Parking Lot at Scotts Bay
Leader: Charles Cron.
Registration is required: Call Charlie at 477-8272

Monday May 26 - Evening meeting night/exploration field trip/pleasant walk
We call this a meeting but it is one of the best kind. No work and all play. For this evening we are meeting at the north end of the Fire School parking lot and stroll the road that follows the coast just below York Redoubt. Expect to see many shrubs and one area has us passing by a bog. Bring field guides and binoculars. Easy walking! Plan on sharing your knowledge.
Directions from Halifax - From the old Armdale Rotary, now Roundabout, head for Purcells Cove Road. Continue on towards Herring Cove. At the top of the hill past Purcells Cove you will come across the sign for York Redoubt. The bus turnaround is there. Keep on going on this paved highway for at least one or more Km until you come to the big parking lot on your left and park at the north end of this lot. This is where the trail starts. This is the area of the Government Fire School.
Time: meet at 6:15 pm
Leader: Heather Drope 423-7032 or cell # 440-5032
Registration: It would be nice to have a head count but not necessary. Bring a friend or two.

Sunday, June 22 - Salmon River Colchester County (Members Only)
This is a very sensitive area of the Salmon River and it prone to major flooding so technically this would be flood plain. Our last newsletter cover showed the sandstone cliffs that are there. Even the walk following a stream down to the river holds many plants, ferns and mosses of interest. This is a field trip that isn't hurried so plan to eat lunch down by the river and spend time exploring.
Very nearby where we park our cars there is a flood plain that has cucumber root vines and Jack-in-the-pulpit just to name a couple of interesting plants.
Time: 10 am in Truro.
Meeting point: to be determined by leader
Leader: Heather Drope
Register: Please contact Heather at 423-7032 or heather.drope@ns.sympatico.ca

Monday evening, June 23 - Suzie Lake
Bob and Wendy will lead this evening hike negind the box stores at Bayer's Lake, many interesting plants.br /> Time: 6:30 pm
Meeting point: In front of Staples at Bayer's Lake
Leaders: Bob and Wendy MacDonald
Register: Not necessary; contact Bob and Wendy at 443-5051

Aug. 1 to 4 - Coastal Plain species trip to Yarmouth County
This is a 3 day trip with 3 overnights. It is being organized by Charlie Cron. Please contact Charlie to register for this trip and get details. (Charlie is away 3 weeks in July, contact early or week of the trip.)

Monday September 22: First Fall Meeting.
Come out and catch up on the wildflower sitings of the summer and discuss options for the fall and winter.

Monday, October 27 - Bhutan and its Plants
Chris and Mary Helleiner visited the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan from April 28 to May 8, 2008 on a wildflower excursion put on by Quest. Many kinds of rhododendrons were in bloom, as well as primulas, arisaemas and other interesting plants, which will be illustrated with photos. These will include as well the mountainous scenery and Bhuddist monasteries, and the Helleiners will talk about the life of the people in this remote and seldom visited land.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Monday, November 24 - Bryophytes (Mosses) 101
Mosses evolved more than 320 million years ago and remain widely distributed today. Anne Mills will introduce us to some of the common species in Nova Scotia and talk about where they grow, their identification, and how they have been used historically.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

[Sunday, November 23] - Mosses Under the Hand Lens
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER/to reschedule
Anne Mills will lead a moss field trip along the trail around the Frog Pond. We will try to identify some common mosses. Bring a hand lens if you have one; Anne will have some some extras if you do not. Come along and find out more about these intriguing plants.
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Place: Meet in the parking lot next to the Pond (Purcell's Cove Road).

Monday, January 26, 2009 - Members slide night.
This is the evening to bring those slides you would like to share with everyone. Short slide presentations are fine or even just a couple of slides would be great. Mystery flora slides are always a lot of fun. Digitial photographs and Power Point presentations can be shown - please bring your own laptop or confirrm that one with the appropriate program will be available.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Wednesday, February 18 - Riparian Rarities on the Run
A special presentation co-sponsored by NSWFS and HFN (Halifax Field Naturalists): plant ecologist Nick Hill will talk about the floodplain system, including discussion of coastal plain rarities and effects of damming, degradation of floodplain habitat more broadly, relationship of diversity to calcium, and how we should be using floodplain lands to maintain native diversity and wildlife corridors.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax
PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS BEING HELD ON A WEDNESDAY IN MID-MONTH, NOT DURING OUR REGULAR MEETING TIMES.

Monday, February 23 - The Acadian Forest
Jamie Simpson, Natural Resources Coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, will talk about the Acadian Forest and its restoration. The presentation will include discussion of a proposed prescribed burning in Kejimkujik National Park. Jamie has a background in forestry, forest ecology and land conservation. He recently completed a book on Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide to Forest Stewardship for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

(A previously announced presentation for this meeting - Identification and Ecology of Sedges by Tyler Smith - had to be postponed.)

Monday, March 23 - Wildflowers of East Texas and the Lost Pines
With Dr. Phil Schappert. Spring in East Texas and the Lost Pines region of central Texas is well underway by mid-March. This presentation will follow the progression of the seasons in Texas and introduce you to the remarkable diversity of the region. Contrasts and comparisons to the wildflowers of Nova Scotia are inevitable and you will recognize more than a few species and will find many others somehow familiar, but with more than 3400 species (about one of every six species known in the US and Canada combined) known for the region, there are many new and spectacular species to see and discover.
Phil and spouse Pat lived in the "Lost Pines" of central Texas for just over 10 years while Phil managed the Stengl "Lost Pines" Biological Station. Two field guides Phil authored (Butterflies, and Wildlfowers, of "East and South-Central Texas") will be published by Texas A&M University Press in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Friday April 10 - Skunk cabbage in SW Nova Scotia
Rain Dates Sat Apr 11 or Sunday Apr.12. Please pre-register with Charlie Cron .This trip is weather dependent, especially road conditions.The exact date will be determined 2-3 days in advance and Charlie will notify participants by phone.
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Place: Meet Shelburne Tim Hortons (suggest leave Halifax at 08:00). We go in a group to Glendale Provincial Park 12:00-14:00. Yarmouth/ Cape Forchu at 15;00. Return via 203 to Shelburne,and to Halifax. Details are subject to change pending road and weather conditions.
Contact: Charlie Cron at (902) 477-8272 (after 6 p.m.).

Monday, April 27 - Annual General Meeting and election of officers
& Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps
The society business will take about 20 minutes. Then Shirley McIntyre will give a presentation showing the great variety of wild flowers, seen at different altitudes of the Bernese Oberland district of Switzerland. Shirley spent two weeks there , the latter part of July in 2008. They lived at the 1200 meter level and hiked at different altitudes. The last hike was to the Aletsch Glacier which is a UNESCO World Heritage site at 2800 meters.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Saturday or Sunday, May 3 - Hepatica at Gays River
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: Meet at Carols Corner school parking lot.09:00hrs. Weather dependent and rubber boots suggested as we will be walking upstream in water. Details will not be availableÊuntil after April 25.
Leader/Contact: Charles Cron, 477-8272. Advance Registration is Essential/Numbers will be limited.

Saturday, May 23 - Salmon River Colchester County. (Members only)
This is a very sensitive area of the Salmon River and it prone to major flooding so technically this would be flood plain. Even the walk following a stream down to the river holds many plants, ferns and mosses of interest. This is a field trip that isn't hurried so plan to eat lunch down by the river and spend time exploring. Very nearby where we park our cars there is a flood plain that has cucumber root vines and Jack-in-the-pulpit just to name a couple of interesting plants. A bit too early to see these plants but I can point it out for later exploration.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Meet in Truro. details to be posted.
Leader/Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032, cell # 440-5032 or heather.drope@ns.sympatico.ca.
Members only; Registration required.

Sunday, May 17 - Spring Wildflowers at Cape Split
Cancelled

Sunday, June 7 - Guided walk through Hemlock Ravine Park.
Hemlock Ravine Park is one of the five large municipal parks in HRM. Overlooking Bedford Basin, it occupies part of the 19th century estate of the Duke of Kent, and was formed in the 1970s from a complex of private and public lands both to preserve remaining cultural features and the old growth Hemlock forest remnant in the ravine itself, but encompasses several habitats. Like Point Pleasant, it has been severely impacted by both hurricane Juan and the brown spruce longhorn beetle, and is an environment in transition. The walk will last 1 - 2 hours.
Time: 2:00 pm
Place: Meet in the parking lot at the top of Kent Street
Leader/Contact: Barry Sawyer, (902) 445-4938

Saturday, July 4 - Taylor Head Provincial Park. (Members only)
This is an all day trip and will consist of two parts. It will be leisurely so members may identify the coastal forest plants and photograph them. Bring lunch as there are no nearby eating or take out restaurants.
Time: 10:30 a.m. (no rain date)
Place: The Park is situated on highway 107 and the park sign will be on your right. Park at the end parking lot closest to the beach.
Leader/Contact: Heather Drope, cell 440-5032

Tuesday, July 21 - Shubie Park Orchids.
Growing in splendor in Shubie Park are the magnificent Large Purple Fringed Orchids. Join us on a walk into see them.
Time: 6:00 p.m. (no rain date)
Place: Meet at the main parking lot of the Shubie Park at 6 pm.
Leader/Contact: Heather Drope, 423-7032

Friday to Monday, July 31, Aug. 1, 2, 3 - Yarmouth Coastal Plain Flora.
This is a 3 day trip with 3 overnights. Registration required before June 30.
See Detailed Itinerary & Registration Info.
Time: Travel Day, July 31: a.m. (no rain date)
Place: Meet Shelburne Tim Hortons @2:00PM if possible. We will then take hwy 203 to Vaughan Lake B&B.
Leader/Contact: Charlie Cron 477-8272.

Sunday, August 30 (rescheduled from Aug. 23) - The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail. CANCELLED
Unfort. it's clear that our rain date is a storm date (as was our previously scheduled time), so we are canceling this walk. 'Will try to do it later in Sept.

Co-hosted by the Woodens River Watershed Environmental Organization, this field trip will cover the first loop of The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail. The terrain is a patchwork of black spruce, red spruce, red oak and mixed forest types, lakes and associated wetlands, granite barrens and bogs. Difficulty: moderate, length approx 8km/4-6 hours. There will be a shorter, approx. 2 hr option.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Meet at the Bluff Trail Parking Lot. To access the parking lot, go to exit 4 on hwy 103, turn onto the Bay Road (Rt.3) heading back to Halifax, go 2 km to Bay Self-Storage on the right. The Bluff Trail parking lot is immediately afterward.
Leader/Contact: David Patriquin, 4235716.

The field trip was rescheduled from Aug 23 because of heavy rains expected on that date. The hike will go ahead on Aug. 30 if there is light rain/scattered showers, but not if there is heavy rain. Please check this site the day before if in doubt.

Monday, September 28 - Plants and Butterflies: the Chemistry of Relationships
A presentation by Dr. Phil Schappert. Plants and insect herbivores, like the butterflies, have co-evolved in sometimes intimate relationships that are a product of their interacting chemistry: what butterflies need, plants provide. Come and learn how the defensive chemistry of plants has been subverted by butterflies and other insects to serve their own needs. Examples will be drawn from the wild flora and butterflies of Nova Scotia and Texas.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Sunday, October 4 - Mosses 101 Field Trip.
CANCELLED due to rain Some of you who came to my Mosses 101 talk last fall will have some idea about the biology and habits of these small but interesting plants but with the cancellation of the field trip, because of a snow storm, we didn,t have the chance to see where they grow and thrive. I propose to remedy this by leading a field trip Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 in Long Lake Provincial Park. We will look at some of the common mosses one finds along the trail; on trees, rocks, fallen logs, over soil and, if we're lucky, by the lake.
Time: 1:00 p.m. (no rain date)
Place: Take the Bay Road (old route 3) from the roundabout to the Halifax Regional Water Commission sign, 250 m past Albert Walker Drive at the stop lights (to Northwest Arm Drive). Continue past the sign and turn around farther along the road at the main parking lot for Long Lake PP. Head back inbound to the sign where you can pull off the road at the trail head. We will meet there at 1:00 p.m. for about 2 hours in the field. The trail is narrow and rather uneven over rocks and tree roots so wear suitable footwear. Bring along water and a hand lens f you have one. Some extra lenses will be provided.
Leader/Contact: Anne Mills

Monday, October 26 - The Wild Flora of Turkey
Presented by Blake Maybank
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Monday, November 23 - Native Orchids of Nova Scotia
Presented by Heather Drope, this will be a virtual tour of the orchids and the habitats they live in.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Saturday October 31 - Prospect Barrens.
This trip is to look at Bayberry, Bearberry Crowberry Cranberry, Pitcher plant,Iris setosa, Iris versicolour all in fall colors or seed pods. Please register with Charles Cron, 477-8272
Time: 10 a.m. Rain date is Sunday, Nov. 1
Place: Meet at From Armdale Roundabout St.Margarets Bay road to Hgwy. 333 Peggys cove rd. 15Km to Whites Lake,turn off to Prospect just before Shad Bay.Follow road to Prospect Village.Trail entrance is on the right just as you enter the village.
Contact: Charles Cron. Register 477-8272

Monday, January 25 - Members presentation night.
Always an entertaining evening with photos, slide shows, show and tell and digital presentations. Short presentations are fine as well as medium length ones. Please contact Heather Drope so that we will know what is being presented. Heather will be away until January 20 so please call or email after that date. (Heather Drope: 423-7032). Place: Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Sunday, February 21 - Annual twig identification walk. (Weather and Trail conditions permitting)
The walk will be along the trail at the frog pond and if time permits possibly Near the Fire Fighting training School just past York Redoubt, and the trail at Herring Cove.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: meet at Frog pond: parking lot
Contact: Please register with Charlie (477-8272) so he can contact you if there are changes.

Monday, February 22 - Plants of the wet (Jamaica east) and the dry (Jamaica south west and Arizona). Presented by Joan Czapalay. This will be a slide presentation and talk by Joan who spent many winters working in Jamaica with the local teachers and traveled to areas in Jamaica that tourists never get to see. Place: Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Monday, March 22 - Plant Watch
Plant Watch is back for the Wild Flora. Many years ago we participated in the annual Plant Watch study. This year Melanie Priesnitz, Nova Scotia Plant Watch Coordinator will be explaining to us about it and letting us know how we can once again participate. Place: Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Monday, April 26 - AGM / Landscapes & Habitats of the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area (FBLWA)
The society business, including election of officers, will take about 20 minutes. Then Nick Hill and David Patiquin will provide a conceptual and pictorial tour of landscapes and habitats in the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, our newest Candidate Protected Area. FBLWA is a mosaic of habitats including many lakes, rivers and streams; extensive barrens with pockets of forest and wetlands above the Old Coach Road; and, below, largely undisturbed deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest with pockets of barrens, wetlands, and treed bogs. The latter includes significant old growth red oak and red spruce stands that Nick and Dave investigated in the summer of 2009.
Place: Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, N.S. Museum of Natural History, Summer St., Halifax

Sunday, May 16 - Mosses 101 Field Trip.
Some of you who came to Anne Mills' Mosses 101 talk at one of the NSWFS meetings, will have some idea about the biology and habits of these small but interesting plants but with the cancellation of the field trip, because of a snow storm, we didn't have the chance to see where they grow and thrive. Anne is remedying this by leading a field trip Sunday, May 16 in Long Lake Provincial Park. We will look at some of the common mosses one finds along the trail; on trees, rocks, fallen logs, over soil and, if we're lucky, by the lake.
Time: 1:00 p.m. (no rain date)
Place: Take the Bay Road (old route 3) from the roundabout to the Halifax Regional Water Commission sign, 250 m past Albert Walker Drive at the stop lights (to Northwest Arm Drive). Continue past the sign and turn around farther along the road at the main parking lot for Long Lake PP. Head back inbound to the sign where you can pull off the road at the trail head. We will meet there at 1:00 p.m. for about 2 hours in the field. The trail is narrow and rather uneven over rocks and tree roots so wear suitable footwear. Bring along water and a hand lens if you have one. Some extra lenses will be provided.
Leader/Contact: Anne Mills

May 29 - Avon Peninsula Watershed Commons.
We will join Avon Peninsula folks in their mini-BioBlitz. Yellows should be out. Details to follow. Contact person: David Patriquin, patriqui@dal.ca or 4235716. Meet 9 a.m. Ferry Road. Google Map | Poster Please let David Patriquin (patriqui@dal.ca) know if you plan to attend.

Monday, June 14 - OldCoach Rd Trail, Bedford
Sponsored by the Wild Flora Assc and the Halifax N. W. Trails Association, join a walk on the historic OldCoach Rd Trail which was incorporated into the Ravines of Bedford South by Clayton Devt. Participants can look at the flora or use a series of connecting walkways to explore the area with views over the Bedford Basin. Moderate walking level on gravel and paved paths. Dogs on leash. Time 1-2 hours but participants can easily return earlier. if needed. Interpretation board and also self guiding leaflet available.
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Place: Park by the mailboxes above 70 Southgate Rd, Bedford. Southgate is close to Clearwater if coming on bus route 80. Meet down by the interpretation board ,behind the mail boxes.
Leader/Contact: Patricia Leader, 457 9197

Nova Scotia

Wild Flora Society

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Programme: Past Meetings and Events (2007-2010)