Sir Michael A. Dirr

I am just about to order Michael Dirr's (bow to the ground) illustrated encyclopedia- 'Dirr's Hardy Shrubs and Trees'- the hardcover edition for our classroom. This book is called 'the ultimate in reference texts about shrubs and trees...sets what should be the standard for plant books.'- Joel Lerner, the Washington Post. Apparently it is the ultimate.
Dirr is known for his dry sense of humour and it is this humour that will creep up unexpectantly as you read a morphological description. For example, about poplars- 'I never recommended a poplar to anyone, at least while conscious.' Or referring to the common Ninebark- 'an extremely adaptable plant, perhaps even to nuclear attacks, and once established, requires a bulldozer for removal.'

Graduates- Would you like to go to Kew Gardens- Arboriculture training here too!!

Horticulture students come from around the world to study at Kew for the world’s foremost qualification in botanical horticulture – the three-year Kew Diploma. The course offers a broad-based training in amenity and botanical horticulture. The aim is to provide students with an opportunity to study scientific and technical subjects at first degree level, whilst gaining practical experience and responsibility working in this foremost botanic garden. Students are employees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and receive payment throughout the three-year course, including during the lecture block trimesters. This means our students do not have to take out a loan, and do not have to pay top up or tuition fees!
In particular, the course seeks to:
provide an integrated theoretical and practical curriculum, based on all the operations of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; encourage student-centered learning so that all students have an opportunity to pursue study of their own interest; demonstrate practical applications of theoretical principles, referring throughout to current and future needs of the horticultural industry; teach the highest standards of professional practice to all students.

Here is the web address: http://www.kew.org/education/diploma/index.html

Take me! Take me!

The Spring Rose...

To me spring isn't spring until the serviceberry is in bloom. It is also known as the shadwood, sugarplum, juneberry, saskatoon, shadblow, sarviceberry, wild plum, indian plum and last but not least, Amelanchier. I'm sure I've missed a few. Probably the reason it has so many names is because it is a tree if all seasons with edible fruit to boot. It is my favourite native tree, not because I like to eat the berries, but because it is so ornamental with a great form. When the shadblow blooms, the shadfish are running, my father says. The airy flowers are gone too soon, the fruit, if you can beat the birds, taste like blueberries. The native peoples mixed them with fat and dried meats to make pemmican and made arrow shafts out of the stems. The Saskatoons are grown commercially. The fruit was not safe around me when I worked at the nursery- I always made excuses to be around them.

Of course it is in the Rose family....

Sedges and Grasses?

A workshop for the keeners in our group!


Hello Gardeners and Nature Lovers,

We have a full list of fun and educational events and workshops at the Botanical Gardens this summer that you may be interested in.
You can download the complete list on our website:
http://botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca
http://botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca/documents/summer08_final.pdf

One that may be of particular interest to plant people is listed below: If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a carex and a grass, this is the workshop for you.

Carex workshop
Introduction to the taxonomy and ecology of sedges
June 21, 10am-4pm
Adult, $50
This program will provide a combination of herbarium and field observation of the challenging genus Carex. Participants will learn to recognize the features of these plants which are critical for identification. The second half of the program will take place outdoors, giving participants an opportunity to learn about the ecology and natural history of this fascinating group. Ideal for experienced botanists, but newcomers are also more than welcome. Instructor: Tyler Smith

To register for any of our courses or workshops call 585-1917.

The trilliums are in full bloom in the gardens at the moment and the yellow lady’s slippers have set their buds, if you have time to visit us in the next few weeks you’ll see a lovely show of spring flowers!

I hope to see you in the Gardens soon.Melanie




______________________________
Melanie Priesnitz
Conservation Horticulturist
Nova Scotia PlantWatch CoordinatorK.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre &Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens

Acadia University52 University Ave, Box 48Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6
Phone 585-1916 Fax 585-1034
DeWolfe House Room 306
http://www.plantwatch.ca

Trout lily....better known as Adder's Tongue...as well as Dogtooth Violet....

An Erythronium by any other name...would not smell as sweet. (Actually, there is no smell.)

My grandmother's favourite wildflower was the Trout Lily although, if I recall, she called it an Adder's Tongue, so named for it's petals that curl back like a snake's tongue. My Mom picks a tiny bunch on my grandmother's birthday each May in memory of her. There is always one or more there for her to pick, regardless of how late spring arrives. (like this year.) To find this plant, look underneath some deciduous trees on a sunny bank by a stream, or a riverbank. It's leaves are mottled like a trout's back and it really does belong to the lily family, not the violet family as the other common name deludes to...

Dogtooth refers to the underground corm that is shaped like a dog's tooth! I don't know why it is called a violet- it in no way resembles one! The genus name, Erythronium is taken from the Greek word 'erythro' meaning red in reference to the pink or red flowers of some species, not this one, or the reddish blotches on the leaves.

The Trout lily is a food source for bears, ground squirrels and was used occasionally by our native people. The corms were eaten raw or boiled and some say they have a taste like cucumber. The leaves were also used in a salad- please don't try this at home- some say it can cause vomiting or a burning sensation- ick! This species Erythronium americanum is native to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They can form dense groundcovers if they are in their happy place! They spread by corm division and by seed somewhat. Ants help seed propagation by eating the nutritious appendage attached to each seed and leaving the rest to germinate- who would have imagined!

Landscape video- what we are about....

As created by the Journalism Department here at NBCC Woodstock.

High waters of the first week of May, 2008

This is where you used to park!! Since then the waters have calmed down and things are back to normal exept for the driftwood laying on the lawn areas.