Education Day at MacPhail Woods!

After a couple weeks of sweltering heat, we decided that the crew needed a well-deserved education day away from the watershed.  In my work with the Devil's Punchbowl, I've been looking for examples and ideas of signs in natural areas that are suitable and also durable.  Knowing that MacPhail Woods and homestead have put a lot of energy into information and trail-side signs, I was interested to see some examples currently in use.
So we loaded up my mini-van and headed east.

We started walking the trails and although there was a bit of drizzle now and then, it couldn't dampen the spirits of the crew.  The trails were so well maintained, but allowed to change and grow as nature required, it was a great day for a hike.  There was a lovely mist rising off the stream and it felt a bit like being in a movie from time to time.

Of course it was useful having Mike with us to point out important plants and share the wealth of information he has from a lifetime of working with and in the woods.

Mike even shared his owl-call!

We came across a number of small red-backed salamanders and this little toad who didn't seem to mind our intrusion at all.

On one trail there was a large clay deposit, which I thought was really interesting.

MacPhail woods has created a pamphlet that walks you through the trails, pointing out significant natural elements, like the largest hemlock on the property (it was HUGE). Jake really LOVED the BIG trees.  :)

Here is an example of just one of the signs that are displayed along one of the trails.  The mosquitoes were fierce with the warm rain, so we snapped the pictures and read the signs later!

Here is a blue bead lily, which are a native species and quite common along the trails.  They really caught my eye since they look like large blueberries, but believe me, they're not!

There is an information centre as well, with some really interesting animals to look it (taxidermy form of course).  A wide variety of owls and waterfowl, as well as a coyote and then this HUGE slice of an old tree, where the rings have been counted to determine it's age.  The innermost ring is marked 1679.  Wow.

Overall, it was a hugely successful day, with everyone learning and loving nature.  It was a well-deserved break, but it was also a great opportunity to expand our knowledge a bit too.

-Sally