While paddling on Lac le Jeune swarms of blue damselflies hovered over shallow areas. They landed on the kayak or on lily pads and logs. A number were flying while mating. Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies, have separate eyes, and bring their wings to their sides at rest. Dragonflies are larger, leave their wings out, and have two eyes with …Continue reading…
While out doing trailwork on the Dewdrop Trail, we came along a south-facing slope. Sagebrush mariposa lilies dotted the rocky hillside. The flowers stood about 40 cm high and each had a single lavender flower. The whole plant is edible and because of this, the flower has been disappearing from areas where cattle graze. First nations people harvested the bulbs …Continue reading…
While on a hike on the back side of Tod Mountain in July, early wildflowers were out including whole hillsides of shooting stars. These are a perennial with purple-lavender flowers over a rosette of leaves. They bloom in lower elevations earlier, but in open alpine meadows while the ground is still wet. First Nations peoples used this plant as an …Continue reading…
When the Thompson River rises, the floodland channels are rich in wildlife. After 5 visits to the Tranquille Wildlife Protection area, we spotted great blue herons on each trip. There are either 2 or 3 pairs in the area. They are easy to spot when they fly overhead. We also observed (and videotaped) herons in the shallows searching and finding …Continue reading…
With each venture into the forest, wildflowers, shrubs, and fungi are there to be seen. For some of these there is only a 2 week showcase window, but a variety of environments, altitudes, and competition, we can expect to predictably observe a species on a selected trail. On a trip to Mt. Embleton in mid-June, we hoped to see the …Continue reading…
We have been re-exploring the old homesteads on the edges of the Lac du Bois ranges. About 20 years ago, a 100 year-old homestead still existed near Stony Lake, but it has all but disappeared now. When we mapped the area, 4 walls enclosed two buildings, but now only a few scattered boards remain. This was not nature reclaiming the …Continue reading…