Author Archives: admin

Japanese Barberry: a significant invasive on Lawsons Brook and perhaps elsewhere in the Backlands (Halifax, NS) 17Aug2023

Posted on August 17, 2023 by admin

UPDATE Aug 18, 2023: The NS Invasive Species Council has recently released their new Grow Me Instead guidebook in which Japanese Barberry and Common Barberry are cited as potential invasives in NS & NB; they suggest alternative native species to … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Invasive species, Shaw Wilderness Park | Comments Off on Japanese Barberry: a significant invasive on Lawsons Brook and perhaps elsewhere in the Backlands (Halifax, NS) 17Aug2023

Public Feedback on the Backlands sought for the Regional Plan Review 16Aug2023

Posted on August 16, 2023 by admin

Representatives of the Coalition’s member groups have been meeting monthly to discuss ways and means to accomplish our mission: to ensure no loss of wildlife habitat in the Backlands and to preserve them for natural, historical, cultural, conservation, educational, recreational … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Comments Off on Public Feedback on the Backlands sought for the Regional Plan Review 16Aug2023

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid now in the Halifax area 11Aug2023

Posted on August 11, 2023 by admin

UPDATE Aug 16, 2023: Forest ecologist, Donna Crossland, explains the significance of the discovery of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid – or HWA – in Bedford, NS (Audio) CBC Maritime Noon ———————————- Subject: HWA Working Group – HWA Detection in Nova Scotia Date: … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Invasive species | Comments Off on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid now in the Halifax area 11Aug2023

Shaw Wilderness Park – Camp Fire Sighted! 31July2023

Posted on August 6, 2023 by admin

A camp fire was sighted in the Shaw Wilderness Park by residents of Williams Lake the evening of July 31. Fire Fighters could not reach the camp site and could not verify if the fire had been extinguished properly. Residents … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Fire Ecology, Recreation, Shaw Wilderness Park | Comments Off on Shaw Wilderness Park – Camp Fire Sighted! 31July2023

Art Meets Nature and Activism at Sandy Lake – art show opens Thursday July 13th, 2023 !

Posted on July 12, 2023 by admin

A wonderful collective of artists has been creating works based on their experiences at Sandy Lake Regional Park. Their gorgeous paintings and drawings will form part of a 2-week long art show at Second Gallery (Upstairs at 6301 Quinpool Road, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Conservation | Comments Off on Art Meets Nature and Activism at Sandy Lake – art show opens Thursday July 13th, 2023 !

Peak flowering (now) is a good time to spot invasive multiflora rose and help stop its spread into the Backlands 6Jul2023

Posted on July 6, 2023 by admin

By David Patriquin It’s peak flowering time for Rosa multiflora, an invasive species that can be challenging to remove once it gets well established. The plants are readily spotted when they are flowering, so its a good time to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Invasive species | Comments Off on Peak flowering (now) is a good time to spot invasive multiflora rose and help stop its spread into the Backlands 6Jul2023

A misty walk at East Pine Island Pond on Canada Day 2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by admin

Photos by Joshua Barss Donham and Rosa Barss Donham at East Pine Island Pond in the Purcells Cove Backlands on Canada Day

Posted in Birds, Conservation | Comments Off on A misty walk at East Pine Island Pond on Canada Day 2023

Presumptive Exobasidium infestation on Black Huckleberry extends well beyond Osprey Trail area (Halifax Backlands) 5July2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by admin

It took only 2 days following my initial post about this “mystery pest” on Black Huckleberry in the Osprey Trail area (McIntosh Run barrens) to document, courtesy of Joshua Barss Donham & Rosa Barss Donham & iNaturalist, occurrences of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Exobasidium | Comments Off on Presumptive Exobasidium infestation on Black Huckleberry extends well beyond Osprey Trail area (Halifax Backlands) 5July2023

Fruit production by Black Huckleberry on the McIntosh Run barrens reduced by mystery pest 3Jul2023

Posted on July 3, 2023 by admin

The mystery pest appears to be the work of a fungus in the genus Exobasidium, a group of parasitic fungi.  While berry production in the area examined will certainly be reduced this year, it probably  won’t have serious longer term … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Exobasidium | Comments Off on Fruit production by Black Huckleberry on the McIntosh Run barrens reduced by mystery pest 3Jul2023

Golden Heather in flower in the Backlands 30Jun2023

Posted on June 30, 2023 by admin

And some thoughts about what’s involved in keeping it around. By David Patriquin I have been observing Golden Heather (Hudsonia ericoides ) in flower in the Backlands over the last last 10 days or so. Golden Heather is hard to … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Fire Ecology | Comments Off on Golden Heather in flower in the Backlands 30Jun2023