Nature PEI

A cooperative project between Nature PEI, the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation and the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre has been launched as a Key to Orchidaceae of Prince Edward Island

The key indicates:

A total of 32 Orchid species and two hybrids across 12 genera occur on Prince Edward Island. An additional two species that are reported but not confirmed are included in square brackets. An identification key is presented in a simple illustrated form and traditional dichotomous form. The illustrated key below is designed to make identification accessible by providing visual examples of the characters in each couplet. Species accounts are provided with reference to Prince Edward Island and the Maritimes. 

Check it out: Key to Orchidaceae of Prince Edward Island

Take a break from the winter weather and learn more about the fascinating array of orchids that are found on PEI with Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre (AC CDC) botanist Colin Chapman.  AC CDC has made dozens of exciting botanical discoveries on Prince Edward Island over the last 20 years, including new provincial records of everything from stunning orchids to cryptic sedges! With such an increase in our plant biodiversity knowledge of the Island, we needed an updated flora. To start addressing this need, the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, Nature PEI, and the AC CDC partnered in the development of the first section of a new online Flora of PEI. Colin Chapman will talk about the first installment: a fully-illustrated online key to the Orchids of PEI, including diagnostic pictures and distribution maps.

Colin is originally from Ottawa, where he made many significant discoveries during biological inventories in the Carolinian and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest zones. He studied at the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto, where he investigated hybridization between Arctic plants.

All are welcome at the Carriage House, Tuesday December 4, 2018 to meet Colin and learn more about our Island orchids.  The evening kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with the Nature PEI public meeting, raffle and refreshments. The feature presentation begins at 8:00 p.m.

This event would be suitable for young scientists so please consider inviting younger family members or neighbours who share an interest in nature.

The Carriage House at Beaconsfield is located at the corner of West and Kent St. in Charlottetown.

Nature PEI’s November meeting will feature award-winning scientist and author Dr. John Calder who will be reading from his book “Island at the Centre of the World: the Geological Heritage of Prince Edward Island” recently published by the Island’s own Acorn Press.  John will share the “back stories” of his book, a 4 year labour of love that has sparked new discoveries of PEI’s ancient past. Those stories include why the head of vertebrate paleontology at the Smithsonian was so willing to contribute to the book, how the Mi’kmaq were here to witness the birth of the Island, the story of a very different and sacred rock on Hog Island, and how intrepid Islanders have acted as stewards of an incredible legacy from the Permian Period of Earth history almost 300 million years ago.  The book will be available at a special tax-free price for members and attendees.

Dr. Calder  was the lead scientist in the project to designate the Joggins Fossil Cliffs of Nova Scotia as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He has published extensively on the geology of our region and his work  has been widely recognized by his peers. He is a ‘down to earth’ presenter with an easy going and engaging style and is happy to respond to his audience.

All are welcome at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 to meet Dr.  Calder and learn more about the fascinating geological heritage of our Island.

Weather intervened last weekend and we had to reschedule the Hike and Photographic Event to this coming Sunday.  Also, the time change occurs Saturday evening so we had to adjust the start time to 1:30 pm.

The Hillsborough River Association and go! East PEI together with the Community of Mount Stewart are holding a Photography Walk-Hike on Pigot’s Trail in Mount Stewart on Sunday afternoon November 4th, 2018 between 1:30 and 4:00 pm.  Please distribute copies to those who you feel would be interested.

Islanders who enjoy the outdoors this time of year are invited to participate in this Photography Walk and Hike on the scenic Pigot’s Trail. This hike will feature tips on nature photography during an autumn evening. This event is open to all ages and to people with various photographic skills and equipment and will touch upon I Phone, I Pad, traditional cameras and related equipment. There is no charge.

Dan McAskill of the Hillsborough River Association and Jacob Smith of Eastern Region Sport and Recreation (go! East PEI) are pleased to promote this fall activity on the picturesque Pigot’s Trail along the Hillsborough River, Prince Edward Island’s first designated Canadian Heritage River.   An accomplished photographer will lead the photography portion of the event and there will be a naturalist to answer questions on plants and animals along the Trail.

Participants are asked to gather at the Mount Stewart Community Centre, South Main Street at 1:30 pm. for orientation and instruction before proceeding to the Pigot’s Trail. At the end of the outing, there will be time for light refreshments and further socialization at the Community Centre. Please dress accordingly for the weather and time of year.

To assist in preparing for the food for this event, please preregister at pisquidwatershed@gmail.com or see us on our Facebook site search-HRA-Watershed-Management preregistration. There will be some space to accommodate additional registrations at the event. For information on the event please contact us at ersrcinc@live.com or 902-940-4115.

Fall Colours Outing – come join us in the Valleyfield Woodlot to enjoy blazing colour and other signs of plants and animals getting ready for winter.  Bring your camera!  The walk is short (1-2 km) but there will be lots to see, including mushrooms!

Leaders:  Kathleen and Dave MacNearney;

Date:  Saturday, Oct. 13 (rain date, Sunday, Oct. 14); 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Meeting Place:  Meet at the corner the Valleyfield Road (Rte 326) and the Dalmaney Road (Rte 354)  at 10:00 am, then adjourn to Robbins Trail parking Lot where we will start the walk.