Walk to explore native plants Saturday at Macphail Woods
In celebration of Island flora, biologist Kate MacQuarrie will be sharing her love of plants at Macphail Woods on Saturday, June 3. She will walk the nature trails of the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell, starting at 10 a.m. at the nursery.
She will point out common and uncommon species of flowering and non-flowering plants. Wildflowers, ferns, club mosses, shrubs – all these and more will be part of the discussion and identification.
For many years, MacQuarrie has travelled different types of habitats across the Island looking for rare and common plants. In her work with the Island Nature Trust and now as director of the forests, fish and wildlife division of the Department of Community, Land and the Environment, she has studied dune systems, old growth forests, and everything in between. This field work has given her an intimate knowledge of native and non-native plants.
This walk will offer an opportunity to learn about woodland flowers such as bunchberry and nodding trillium, as well as rarer wildflowers and our many non-flowering plants. There is no charge for the walk and no registration is necessary. Participants are advised to bring good walking shoes and clothing appropriate to the weather conditions. For more information, call 902-651-2575, check out the website: macphailwoods.org or visit their Facebook page. Over the years, hundreds of people have taken part in the plant workshops at Macphail Woods to become more observant of the natural world around them. This event is just one of the many nature and forest related walks and workshops sponsored by the Environmental Coalition of P.E.I. throughout the year.