May Flowers on Sunflower Hill... and Beyond: May 26
Join Janice Strong, author of Mountain Footsteps, Hikes in the East Kootenay of Southeastern British Columbia, and Jamie Levine
10am, Sunday, May 26, 2024
Campground Trailhead, 2.8 km on St Mary’s Rd
3 hours, easy/moderate hike
No dogs, please, by request of the hike leaders
Bring clothing suitable for changing weather and a drink and/or snack
For more information, contact Janice at mail@janicestrong.com
Outing Report
This walk began at the Campground Entrance, along Jimmy Russell Road, up Sunflower Hill then back along Borderline to Duck Pond trail and returning along Jimmy Russell. There were 32 participants, including the leaders, who hailed from far (Europe, Asia) and near (Alberta and the Riverside Campground). Everyone enjoyed the enthusiasm, expertise and presentation of Jamie and Janice as they led us on a discovery of the fascinating above-ground and underground lives of some of the plants that share their home with us.
The walk involved 15 stops along the way, presenting various aspects of how the plants live and breathe, in harmony and communication with the ecosystem. The following is a very brief summary of some of the wealth of information that was shared.
The Dandelion: Did you know that dandelions are good for your lawn? Their wide-spreading roots loosen hard-packed soil, aerate the earth and help reduce erosion. The deep taproot pulls nutrients such as calcium from deep in the soil and makes them available to other plants. While most think they’re a lawn killer, dandelions actually enhance the grass. They also provide early spring food for pollinators.
What are Flowers? The colourful flower has uniquely evolved to attract pollinators for reproduction. Pollen is plant sperm and is a source of protein, fats and minerals. Nectar is a source of sugar and carbohydrates for energy. What do plants eat? Water! They break down water for the hydrogen and toss away the oxygen. Most of the plant’s mass comes from CO2 and H2O. The carbon dioxide combines with the hydrogen and makes hydrocarbons forming most of the plant mass, plus water. There are multiple very important pollinators, including native bees, flies and wasps, each adapted specifically to certain plants.
Non-flowering plants are called gymnosperms and are pollinated by the wind. Male parts are transient and the female cones take several years to mature. The Grasses are pollinated by the wind; more energy efficient than flowers.
Balsamroot: The lovely yellow flowers are actually clusters of flowers arranged on a stem. The flowers follow the sun. The large taproots can reach up to 8 feet deep; this taproot system helps the plants survive fire and drought.
Death Camas: There is an amazing mutualism between this poisonous plant and a native bee.
Mycorrhizal Network: There is a fungal communication network below the soil surface. Janice and Jamie have a YouTube video called “the fungus among us” if you are interested.
Kinnikinnick: A hardy trailing evergreen shrub; the bell-shaped flowers are pollinated by “buzz pollination” whereby the bee vibrates over the flower to spread the pollen.
Pinedrops: This is a reddish-brown saprophytic perennial that gets its nutrients from dead organic matter; it can grow up to 100 cm or 3 feet tall.
Photos by Dina Hanson
