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| Figure 1: Carpetweed Mollugo verticillata (photo by author) Skeena Nature Trail is a pleasant mix of forest and shrub-steppe habitat that ascends from Summit Drive (a quiet roadway that crosses between a bright-green, manicured park and the trail). On the apex of the sloping trail is a rich residential zone, and across Summit Drive in the other direction is a similar nest of housing complexes that overlook both the man-made park and Skeena Trail. With all these developments encroaching on this strip of natural landscape it's no wonder carpetweed grows so plentifully, as is it know to thrive in "inhabited" locations (Ontario Weed Committee 2011). The majority of the clusters of carpetweed that I encountered were near the base of the trail, where the landscape had been more heavily impacted by the road and parking lot (of the park) nearby. Carpetweed seemed to grow in barren locations where the soil quality was hard and dry, near the pavement, around large rocks and stones, and at the base of the hill where the worn trail was more apparent. It was the first plant I examined and photographed because it was so near to the start of the trail and very easy to access (farther up the trail began to get too steep to climb without difficulty). I admired its swirls of leaves and the greenness still apparent even in late fall, considering it aesthetically satisfying and quaint long before realize that it was a weed, scorned by gardeners and landscapers alike.
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Thursday 27 October 2011
1. Carpetweed
2. Oregon Grape
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| Figure 2: Oregon Grape Mahonia Aquifolium (Photo by author) The photographs I took of this vibrant little shrub were easily some of my favourites. The leaves were gorgeous shades of bright green and rich red, which added some variety to the golden-brown autumn landscape. |
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| Figure 3: Oregon Grape close-up. The bottom-most leaves turn red first in autumn. (Photo by author) In the shrub-steppe portion of the Skeena trail landscape there was plenty of space for smaller plants to thrive. Clusters of what I believe to be an Oregon Grape shrub added a pleasant "autumnness" to the trail with their bright red bottom leaves. Part of what interested me in this particular species was its vibrant colour, which added to immediate visual attractiveness of the place. Species such as the Oregon Grape are perfect for a landscape such as Skeena Trail which is valued for its contribution to "the view" of the community (to enchant the nearby neighborhoods, as well as potential new buyers). Oregon Grape grows in tall, upright bunches of glossy green and red leaves, often in a small "herd" of its own kind. Although a stray Oregon Grape stem would pop up under a Ponderosa Pine tree or two, the majority of these plants seemed to seek out locations with less shade and competition. Although I would have liked to see these shrubs in bloom, as well as any native species that might feed on the berries they produce, the redness of the autumn dryness added a warm atmosphere to the trail, and the jagged shape of the leaves made for some fun photography.
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3. Snowberry
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| Figure 4: Snowberry Symphoricarpos (Photo by author) The haphazard arrangement of many, small leaves and thin branches made for some difficult photography. Having to interact with the shrub by stepping under and into the long branches was an excellent "ice-breaker" for the trail and myself. |
Figure 5: Snowberry leaves
A "speckling" of leaves across thin branches.
(Photo by author)
The snowberry bushes I encountered along Skeena Trail were interspersed evenly throughout the landscape, which was primarily dominated by ponderosa pine trees and a variety of golden grasses including the great basin wildrye. This shrub seemed to interact well with anything and everything, and was not too picky about where it sunk its roots. As I walked upward along the trail I saw these shrubs in many shapes and sizes, some mature and thick with leaves and others bald new-growths, and in many environmental conditions like sunny, shaded, partially-shaded, soft soil, hard or rocky soil, damp ground or dry ground. The snowberry bush is yet another example of the resilient plant-life that dominated the Skeena Trail area. There seems to be a requirement for the species in this heavily inhabited area to be able to survive and/or cope under a variety of conditions, be they comfortable or inhospitable.
| Location (North America): north, central, eastern USA (Rocchio 2008); throughout Canada Habitat: can survive in drier soil or moist but well-drained; prefers direct sunlight but can survive in partial shade (University of Illinois 2011); adept at surviving in poor soil quality with little external encouragement (Rocchio 2008). Size: 3-6 feet height and width (University of Illinois 2011) Characteristics: small pink flowers, white fruit typically found September to November, green or yellow in colour (University of Illinois 2011); prefer drier soil and partial-to-full sunlight exposure (University of Illinois 2011); Notes: this shrub attracts pheasants, grouses, quails and other bird species when it blooms, and can also provide nesting opportunities for smaller birds (Rocchio 2008); the snowberry plant is poisonous to humans and can result in gastrointestinal issues, vomiting, and/or dizziness if consumed (Rocchio 2008); the snowberry is endangered or threatened in many areas, especially throughout the United States (Rocchio 2008) |
4. Ponderosa Pine Tree
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| Figure 6: Ponderosa Pina aka. Western Yellow Pine Pinus ponderosa (Photo by author) The largest species, and arguably the most dominant, along the trail was the ponderosa pine tree. It was the first species I was able to identify. |
Figure 7: Acorn
This close-up of an acorn was helpful in identifying the tree.
(Photo by author)
On my trek up Skeena trail I was constantly in the presence of clustered ponderosa pines. In May of 2011 dozens of ponderosa pines were removed due to pine beetle infestations, but they are still the dominant species on the trail. I was able to identify these trees through a close-up shot of a pine-cone, which I would later interpret as having a similar shape and girth as the ponderosa pine depicted in my "North American Wildlife" guide. It was the first of my selected species that I was able to identify, and also one of the most interesting in term of its uses for Aboriginal people. My research indicated that Ponderosa Pine trees were used for everything from canoe-building to medicinal purposes (Government of B.C. 2011).
Location (North America): some parts of southern BC, central and eastern United States, northern Mexico (Reader's Digest 1982:290) Habitat: thrives in dry, mountainous areas but can also survive in deep, damp soils; deep roots penetrate dry topsoil to reach untapped moisture below; strong roots create wind resistance, so variable weather is not an issue (Government of B.C. 2011). Size: 150 - 180 feet tall (Government of B.C. 2011). Characteristics: needles 4-7 inches long and clustered in groups of 2 or 3; pine-cones with fine prickles; bark composed of interlocking "plates," jagged; bark orangey-brown to black in colour Notes: Fires are common in ponderosa pine forests but the bark is resistant and will not burn as severely as the dry habitat surrounding it. The bark can often be seen with fire scars, which can provide details to the history of fire activity in the past (Government of B.C. 2011). Many Aboriginal peoples within the BC Interior had many uses for the ponderosa pine including eating of the seeds and inner bark, crafting canoes out of the trunk, using the tree resin for waterproofing and medicinal ointment (Government of B.C. 2011). |
Tuesday 25 October 2011
5. Great Basin Windrye
Figure 8: Great Basin Wildrye
aka. Giant Wildrye, Basin Wildrye
Elymus Cinereus
(Photo by author)
(Photo by author)
Grasses covered Skeena Nature Trail, long, unkempt, and the golden-brown of autumn. It was refreshing to walk through the untamed grasses of the trail after crossing the neatly manicured lawn of Dilworth Mountain Park across the street, the bright-green grass of which was most likely not even native to the area. There were a few different types of grass on the trail, but I focused on Great Basin wildrye because the thick, "flowery" heads made for easier photography than some of the more slender varieties. Tufts of this golden-brown grass grew absolutely everywhere, near trees and rocks, beside the road, along the trail, throughout patches of the land that had yet been tampered with and were seldom trod. It's resilience was noteworthy as well as important to the survival of the landscape. Without tough, stable species a landscape surrounded by development on either side would be subjected to eventual diminishing.
Location (North America): Western Canada and USA; some central Canada and USA Habitat: prefers plenty of sun, though partial shade is acceptable; damp, healthy soil; flourishes in open fields; very resilient. Size: approximately 80-100cm tall; with flowers (spring-summer) 110-150cm tall Characteristics: grows in "clumps" of stems; flowers June-July (Bluestem Nursery 2011); tall growth and high blossoms create great aesthetic; in-season grows green or blue/green (FEIS 2011), out-of-season grows golden-brown. Notes: Great Basin wildrye has a high tolerance to drought and can sustain itself without a thorough (to the root) watering for approximately a month (Bluestem Nursery 2011). The substantial height of this grass means that it is less susceptible than other plants to most wildlife grazing. However, insect disturbance can cause the a reduction in the production of seeds (FEIS 2011). It is common to find Great Basin wildrye in mountainous soil as well as by roadsides, which matches the "nature trail" environment I found it it (close to development and roads on Dilworth Mountain). It is somewhat tolerant of the high temperatures of fire, though the top ("flowers") may be damaged. There is also a good chance that the plant will repopulate quickly after a fire. Great Basin wildrye was used as a "mat" during Native American ceremonies, whereas the plant would provide a more comfortable surface for the performers (FEIS 2011). |
6. Alfalfa
Figure 9: Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
(Photo by author)
Higher up the inclined landscape of Skeena Trail I ventured off the well-worn path in a quest for flowers. Although it was late autumn, I was determined to add some colour and character to my roster of species photography. I immediately spotted this alfalfa herb by being draw to its purple blossoms, despite their being shriveled from the cooler weather. My immediate thought was to brighten the collage of photos I had been collecting with the presence of a (somewhat meager) flower, but my research into the alfalfa plant surprised me with its variety of uses. I learned that there was a plethora of medicinal uses for alfalfa such as, but not limited to, the detoxification of the body during the recovery of substance dependency, the elimination of bad breath, removal of plaque along artery walls, and strengthening the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells (Ageless 2011). My first interest may have been its colour and shape, but the uses behind it were the most fascinating to me out of all the species I chose to document. The potential usefulness of alfalfa brought to mind the importance of protecting natural ecosystems, where medicinal remedies and cures may still be hidden, waiting to be discovered.
Location (North America): across North America Habitat: adaptability makes it a common find; fields, poor-quality soils (Reader's Digest 1982:394) Size: 1-3ft. tall with approximately 1in. flower (Reader's Digest 1982:394) Characteristics: In bloom May through October (Reader's Digest 1982:394); purplish flowers in "bunches" at top of stem; leaves grow in groups of three (Reader's Digest 1982:394). Notes: The alfalfa plant was brought to North America for use as a crop plant, but now grow freely across Canada and the USA. The origin of "alfalfa" is Arabic and it translates roughly to "best fodder" (Reader's Digest 1982:394). It is foraged by an assortment of wildlife as well as ranch herds. It is well-known to improve soil quality by returning nutrients to damaged areas (Fowler 2011). The herb has many naturally medicinal qualities and has been noted to cleanse the body of toxins, control bleeding, and regulate cholesterol (Ageless 2011). It is even stated that alfalfa is useful in contributing to the management of heart disease, strokes, cancer and diabetes (Ageless 2011). |
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