Blog

Plants in Country Woods

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Wximia) Is a native, deer resistant perennial of which all parts are toxic in large quantities. The sticky seeds are dispersed by ants who will carry them far away from plant. Great for rock and shade gardens. After flowering this plant...

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Mushrooms around Country Woods, South Surrey BC

October and November are generally the best months for finding different mushroom species, especially after a rain shower. Some of the local mushrooms that can be observed and eaten are: “the chanterelle, boletes, oysters mushrooms, shaggy manes and puffballs”. More...

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Mule Deer (Odocoilus hemonius columbianus)

The first time I came “face to face” with a mule deer was when I had just ventured out into our garden, walking toward the back fence and was met with a surprised look from a deer as it stood on my side of the fence. It was checking out the vegetable garden beneath...

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Spiders

Spiders, don’t hate them but tolerate them! Spiders are not bugs or insects, they have eight legs, most have 8 eyes, have no bones but an exoskeleton and they come in many sizes and colors. They have the amazing ability to adapt to different temperatures and...

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The Douglas Squirrel

The Douglas squirrels are our native squirrels and are half the size of the grey and black ones. Our native squirrels prefer old growth or 2nd year growth forest habitats but will move out when developments move in. Their food preferences are cones and nuts from fir,...

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Lichens

What are lichens? Lichens are not mosses. Lichens are classified as fungi. A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a cyanotic bacteria and an algae. They work together in symbiosis, the fungus supplies the protection from uv rays and can store water,...

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Hummingbirds

Have you noticed a sweet scent wafting past your nose as you walk in our neighborhood and wondered if spring is around the corner? This wonderful aroma most likely comes from the fragrant winter flowering shrubs like the tiny white flowers of the Sweetbox...

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Herons

The Great Blue Heron, a smartly dressed bird in a blue grey suit, gracious and tall! Long legs trailing behind their body as they fly, their head pulled back in an “S” shape against their shoulders, with smooth deliberate wingbeats, usually flying solo, this makes...

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Nature Notes: Gastropods

Most of us have planted our garden beds and vegetable plots by now, as freezing temps are unusual in the middle of May.  The wind however has been cold recently and our delicate tomatoes and annuals are surely shivering and will just stop growing until it gets warmer...

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Signs of Spring in February!!!

Due to the warm temperatures of the last few weeks, we now can enjoy early blossoms and bud formation in certain plants. One of the earliest ones are the yellow and red whitch hazel in our neighborhood. Most pink flowering Rhododendrons are already open. The fragrant...

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