Solitude Nature Reserve is operated by the Phil McNamee Charitable Foundation as a natural environment for the public to enjoy.
On an overcast day that was threatening rain, we went to Solitude with friends in hopes of seeing the display of trilliums and other wildflowers before it was too late. We were not disappointed! With four photographers, we had even more photos to choose from…
Large White Trilliums are sometimes affected by a bacteria that changes the colour of their petals.
Red Trilliums fade to a yellow colour as they age. They also appear to be affected by a bacteria or virus that can distort their petals and leaves.
Colt’s-Foot is one of the few introduced species we saw. It may have been used for medicinal purposes by early settlers. It can be invasive.
Marsh Marigold and Skunk Cabbage grew in abundance in the swampy areas. Field Horsetail was also pushing up.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit is one of our favourite native plants.
Christmas fern was just unfolding its new fronds.
At first, we thought this plant was Dutchman’s Breeches, but on closer examination it turned out to be a related, but differnt plant, Squirrel Corn. Dutchman’s Breeches have spurred flowers that are more pointed whereas the flowers of Squirrel Corn are heart shaped.
There was so much else to see!
Purple Cress
Yellow Trout Lilies and Virginia Spring Beauty
Early Blue Cohosh is a native forest plant that was just coming into bloom. It blooms earlier than Blue Cohosh (bottom right).
Eastern Cottonwood catkins in the water and Turkey Tail fungus.
Spicebush is a shrub that is native to Ontario, found in moist woods. It has bright yellow flowers in early spring and fragrant leaves. It is noted as a host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
As is often the case, we heard many birds, but saw only a few long enough to capture a photo. We counted 12 species. A Grey Catbird mewed and mimicked, but did not show itself. A Yellow Warbler, or perhaps more than one, sang repeatedly from the tree tops, out of sight. We couldn’t locate the Song Sparrow that was singing. We heard the contact chips of White-throated Sparrows that were barely visible as they swept along low branches, close to the forest floor. Several Hermit Thrushes were flying through the forest, landing on low branches. Finally, two photographers got photos! The “parking lot bird” of the day was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet deep in the bushes that our friend was able to photograph (bottom centre).
Wandering Bee Flowers
It was hard to decide between poppies or parrots tulips at the Saturday market. The tulips won, but only by a slender margin…
Great Songs from Great Albums 1966
Now I am having trouble limiting my selections. There was so much music around that I really liked:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhsgho1ap5iq6xLxp2i6WebhGqr1_RAuN
