Category Archives: Nature
Frontenac Challenge 2018
In October 2018 I joined the Pine Ridge Hiking Club in attempting the Frontenac Challenge – all 11 of the park trails, about 120 km, during the fall.
Continue reading →“Medical” marijuana
There are two things I know about marijuana. They are two separate and different things, and I wish that they could be kept that way. Firstly, there are chemicals which can be extracted from cannabis plants which have some medicinal value. They … Continue reading →
First Frost of Fall
I was up early on Sunday October 18th and caught the morning light on the fall colours during one of the first fall frosts on the foliage at Oak Hills Farm.
Continue reading →What is in Bloom – July: Climbing Prairie Rose
In early July the lupines are fading, the beardtongue is past its best, and the lance-leaved coreopsis has just peaked. Coming along to replace them are New Jersey Tea, Black-eyed Susan, Pearly Everlasting, and roses such as Climbing Prairie Rose, … Continue reading →
Kentucky Coffeetree
Growing a Kentucky Coffeetree from Seed Kentucky Coffeetree is an attractive tree which is easy tree to grow from seed, if you know a couple of tricks. Imagine how impressed your friends and neighbours will be in ten years’ time, … Continue reading →
Yellow birch
Yellow birch and old stump What has happened to this tree? How come it seems to start off like a three-legged stool hovering over a stump? Actually, this is not an unusual growth pattern for yellow birch, (Betula alleghaniensis). The … Continue reading →
Trees in winter
If you are trying to learn how to identify trees in winter, one good place to start is to look for trees which still have their dried leaves attached. In Ontario and most of the northeast USA these will be either beech trees or oaks. The phenomenon of retaining dead leaves in winter is called marcescence. Continue reading →
This category is about why nature is important in our lives and for our mental health,and in particular, why children should spend more time in natural environments and less time in front of screens.
It will also be about some things I find interesting in nature, such as this article on how to grow Kentucky coffeetrees from seed.