Flowers Archives - Eep and Guy

June 8, 2018June 18, 2018

The Bruce Trail Iroqouia Section: Buttermilk Falls to Kennilworth Stairs

This part of our hike included a sidetrail to get onto the Bruce Trail Iroqouia section from Buttermilk falls. You’ll see the blue blazes showing the trail from the Falls that leads through the woods along the top of the escarpment running parallel to Mountain Brow Blvd. You’ll hit a crossroads which directs you left, to the Rail Trail, or right, down the escarpment and meeting up with the Bruce. This is the trail we were following when the rain caught us and we turned back, not knowing how close we were.

Bruce trail sidetrail near Mountain Brow Blvd. — Heading down the Escarpment

At the base of the escarpment the trail comes out of the forest and into open meadow running along the King’s Forest Golf Course border.

Sunny open stretches running beside the King’s Forest Golf Course

Wildflowers and Mushrooms

This section of the trail had an abundance of wildflowers and butterflies, especially in the sunny areas. We saw swallowtails as well as tiny blue butterflies/moths. I thought they would be easy to identify but there are several small blue guys in Ontario so I’ll have to try and get a picture for a better identification. There are about 750 species of butterflies recorded in Canada. Each time we head out there’s something new to discover.

greater celandine, spreading dogbane, wild grape, herb robert — 1) Greater celandine, Chelidonium majus 2) Spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium L. 3) Wild grape, Vitis riparia 4) Herb robert, Geranium Robertianum

1) Alsike clover, Trifolium hybridium L. 2) Common Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus 3) Wild phlox, Phlox divaricata 4) Unsure? Milkweed or Joe Pye weed possibly

1) Viper’s Bugloss, Echium vulgare 2) Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia 3) Wild Violet, Viola odorata 4) Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Top left clockwise to bottom left 1) Possibly Fairy Ring Mushroom 2) Unsure 3) Unsure 4) Possibly Ink cap or Shaggy Mane 5) Unsure

There’s quite a bit of red, iron rich, soil exposed here, giving the Red Hill Valley its name.

So Many Stairs

This route continues to run parallel to Mountain Brow Blvd, and part of the Rail Trail, with stairs leading up or down in a couple places accessing Greenhill and Fennel Ave. As we rounded the Escarpment heading northwest we hit our first set of stairs at the Kennilworth Access.

At this point the trail runs high enough to get an overview of King Street East.

Books I Want to Read

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, A Poisonous Plant and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution by Anurag Agrawal

The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly by Kylee Baumle

Part 2 Kennilworth Stairs to Cliffview Park

May 28, 2018May 31, 2018

RBG Laking Garden Irises and Peonies

We went to see the Laking Garden irises this morning, not realizing it was going to be so hot. Why do I never check the weather?

It was 31 degrees in the shade, my friends, and the Laking Garden is laid out like an English garden – very open and very sunny!

But it was beautiful!!!

Tree Peonies

We knew the irises were blooming but were completely surprised by the tree peonies. The front entrance was covered with pink, white, red, and yellow blooms.

Irises

The irises blew us away. Everyone’s used to the typical purple variety found in most gardens but the colors here were incredible. The collection contains at least 1068 types of iris of which over 600 are of the tall bearded class. The Tall Bearded collection shows breeding trends from the 1920’s to the present day featuring both heritage and modern cultivars. There are also Standard Dwarf Bearded irises and Intermediate Bearded Iris.

You will also find Siberian, Spuria and a modest selection of Species Iris. The genus Iris is thought to contain up to 300 species of which nearly all are distributed in temperate Northern hemisphere zones. They are found mainly in semi-desert or cold rocky mountainous areas of Eurasia and Asia but can also be found along grassy slopes, meadowlands and riverbanks. The Blue Flag Iris is a native wildflower of Ontario and grows in wet areas.

There were also some nice shady sections in the garden to escape the heat. It looks like the hostas here will be quite lovely this summer.

May 27, 2018May 31, 2018

Sargent’s Crabapple at the RBG Arboretum

The crabapple trees are blooming now and full of bees!

And they have such a lovely smell.

I didn’t realize that crab apple trees are an important tree for pollinators. They bloom early and continue longer so there is a continuous supply of food. There are also far more species than just honey bees that benefit from this and benefit us. We have over 700 native species of bees in Canada as well as other pollinators like butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, some beetles and hummingbirds.

How can you help our precious pollinators?

Check out the article Pollinator Health to learn about the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, and the actions you can take to help.

Perhaps you’ll even add a Sargent’s crabapple to your yard.

May 25, 2018May 31, 2018

What’s blooming now at the Arboretum? Lilacs

There are so many beautiful lilacs blooming at the Royal Botanical Gardens Arboretum today. If only pictures could smell!

Katie Osborne Lilac Collection

This collection is named after the wife of Colin Osborne as a memoriam. There are over 745 plants in the dell and surrounding area making it one of the more diverse lilac collections in the world. Thanks to the informative displays we learned that around 21 different species occur in the wild, originating in Asia and Europe. All those lovely lilacs I saw as a child growing “wild” in the ditches are offspring of imported plants.

Press on any picture to see the full size image.

Color classification is established by the Wister Code, named after John Wister. The color catagories are

I. White
II. Violet
III. Blueish
IV. Lilac
V. Pinkish
VI. Magenta
VII. Purple

The flowers are also classified as either Single – with four petals, or, Double – with more than four petals.

So my classification for the lilac below would be D3 (Double, blueish). I’m probably wrong though.

Purple cut leaf lilac at RBG Arboretum, Hamilton — Cut Leaf Lilac

The Cut Leaf Lilac is an unusual variety that I had never seen before. I loved the airy nature of the plant compared to the typical dense lilac bush.

Breeders like Victor Lemoine, Manitoba-born Frank Leith Skinner, and Canada’s first female hybridizer, Isobella Preston, have all contributed to the wide variety of bloom size, shape, color, and, of course, scent. The dell was incredible today with the symphony of colored blossoms and individual perfumes.

More information about color classification and identification can be found on the Royal Botanical Garden website.

May 19, 2018May 31, 2018

Bruce Trail Invasive Species

We have loved being within walking distance of the Bruce Trail.

stretch of the Bruce Trail — The Bruce Trail app

When we first were looking at it I really wanted to thru hike it a la Big Three – the Appalchian, Pacific Crest or Continental Divide hikes. There’s something so lovely about the idea of just walking for months on end. Ok, maybe you don’t agree with me, but I’m serious. Unfortunately life kind of gets in the way.

So we’ve been doing the Bruce in stretches because something is better that nothing. There are so many beautiful and interesting things along the way. But there were quite a few things we were unaware of and didn’t expect.

Invasive Species

I was surprised at how many people who live along the Bruce Trail just dump their lawn clippings and thinned out garden plants along the trail. They’re probably thinking that its all plant life and its nature so it doesn’t really matter. But unfortunately this had contributed to the rise of invasive species along the trail systems.

Periwinkle (vinca minor) has a lovely purple flower and is an excellent spreading ground cover in your garden. But it is also miraculously resilient. When you decide you don’t like how much its spreading and throw it in the woods it just keeps on groing in its new habitat. English ivy and gout weed will do the same thing.

What can you do about these invasive species?

Effective management of invasive species does not include chucking them in the woods. In most cases, if you don’t have time for intensive management, it’s better not to plant them at all.

Instead you can purchase native or non invasive species. These will grow better and support the local habitat instead of destroying it.

Also if you find invasive species on your hikes you can report it using the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711. Or use the app EDDMapS Ontario.

P.S. If you want to read an incredibly lovely blog about thru hiking the Hayduke Trail grab your warm beverage of choice, find a comfy spot, and start at the beginning of Catherine Cook’s adventure here.

P.P.S. Her post on the pole of relative inaccessibility was mind widening and unforgotten.

May 15, 2018May 31, 2018

Tulips at Edwards Gardens

The tulips at Edwards Gardens today were stunning.

If you’ve never been I would definitely suggest going. Parking is free and there are so many beautiful trails to enjoy. There are also many wheelchair accessible areas to enjoy.

Trailing redbud tree and white narcissus at Edwards Gardens

Violets, azalea and magnolias at Edwards Gardens

The local wild life is very friendly, and used to being fed. Please do not feed them though.

May 12, 2018June 18, 2018

Bruce Trail from Felker’s Falls

We did a small stretch of the Bruce trail this afternoon.

We started at the Felker’s Falls entrance. There’s a parking lot there for anyone who needs to drive here. Fortunately we’re close enough to walk.

Wildflowers

There were so many spring wildflowers blooming along the way.

Violets, apple blossoms and trilliums were everywhere. There are also quite a few I don’t know so I’m going to have to find out what they are. We also saw a coyote maybe 50 feet away from us, and he was beautiful.

May 11, 2018May 31, 2018

Woodland and Kippax Gardens

Kippax Garden

Virginia bluebells were everywhere.

This garden opened in 2008 when more than 14,000 perennials and grasses were planted. Helen M. Kippax, the garden’s namesake, was one of the founding members of the Canadian Society for Landscape Architecture.

It is a display of the beauty and sustainability of native plants including more than 130 native species. The design, inspired by local plant communities such as prairie, oak savanna, Carolinian forest, and wetland pond sits on about one acre. Instead of individual plants the focus is on plant communities and a more sustainable approach to garden layout.

Woodland Garden

From the Kippax Garden you can enter the Woodland Garden.

There is one particularly stunning magnolia tree in the middle of the Morrison Woodland Garden. It was exploding with blooms.

Helleborus in the Morrison Woodland Garden — Helleborus

starbust magnolia in the Morrison Woodland garden — Starburst Magnolia

There were also some incredible tulips in the scented garden.

Unfortunately RBG lost some beautiful pine trees in a recent windstorm. They were huge and wonderful, and now only one is left.

May 11, 2018May 31, 2018

Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias at RBG

We found a profusion of magnolia blooms at the RBG Arboretum today.

The cherry blossoms weren’t at their peak by the time we came. Someone mentioned that with all the wind and rain they didn’t last as long this year.

There were also three different colors of Eastern Redbud blooming. It is considered a native species because of one recorded observation on the south end of Pelee Island in 1892 by the Canadian botanist John Macoun. The species name, canadensis, is the Latin form of Canadian.

The Starburst magnolias are definitely our new favorites. This species was introduced to the United States in 1862 by Dr. George Robert Hall. It comes from the Ise Bay area of central Honshū, Japan’s largest island. It has a much more delicate flower that some of the other larger, showy, pink blooms.

There are also two lovely sycamore trees that have huge branches dipping down and touching the ground. This American sycamore is from the 1940’s when the arboretum was opened.

There is a sycamore tree in Windsor that is 225 years old, with branches that are 120 years old. It has been recognized as an Ontario Heritage Tree. Some sycamores have been known to live 500-600 years.

Forests Ontario has an interactive map where you can search Heritage Trees all over Ontario.

April 27, 2018May 29, 2018

Hepaticas are out

Hepaticas are some of my favorite spring wild flowers and I especially love the purple ones. We found these growing along the North Bridle Trail in Hendrie Valley Park.