The start of the Invasive Species field season has been full of interesting and new challenges. After the ice storm, the Stewardship team at The Couchiching Conservancy had to restructure their priorities and shift their focus towards safely opening nature reserves. The amount of debris and damage from the ice …
Ontario’s Ash Species, Threats, and Ecology
Introduction Ash trees (Fraxinus sp.) are a foundational tree species around Lake Couchiching and throughout the entire Great Lakes Region. They are observed in large numbers in a wide variety of ecosystems, including moist forests, meadows, alvars, floodplains and swamps. In aquatic ecosystems, the fallen leaves of many ash species …
Jump into spring with us: nine ways to honour our Earth
Spring has arrived, and there are so many ways to celebrate our beautiful planet during April, May and June: Passport to Nature 2024-25 program launch! Monday, April 22 We will be launching the 10th annual Passport to Nature program on Earth Day, with the digital booklet available for viewing on …
The Church Woods Nature Reserve: Protecting urban wild spaces
Walking through The Church Woods Nature Reserve on a spring day is a sublime experience. Spring ephemerals such as Blue Cohosh, Trout Lily, White Trillium, and Red Trillium colour the forest understory beautifully. If you look closely though, you’ll notice a few things are amiss, thick patches of invasive garlic …