FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 3, 2008

In celebration of Island flora, biologist Kate MacQuarrie will be sharing her love of plants at Macphail Woods on Saturday, August 9. Kate will be walking the nature trails of the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell, pointing out common and uncommon species of flowering and non-flowering plants. Wildflowers, ferns, club mosses, shrubs - all of these and more will be part of the discussion and identification.

Over the past years, hundreds of people have taken part in the plant workshops at Macphail Woods and become more observant of the natural world around them. This walk will be an excellent opportunity to learn about common woodland flowers such as bunchberry and false lily-of-the-valley, as well as rarer wildflowers and our many non-flowering plants.

Kate has been a driving force behind the data collection for the upcoming Flora of Prince Edward Island, travelling the many different types of habitats across the Island looking for both rare and common plants. In her work with the Island Nature Trust and now as Director of Environment, Energy and Forestry for the province, she has studied dune systems, bogs, old growth forests, and everything in between. This field work has given her an intimate knowledge of native and non-native plants.

The walk begins in the nursery at 10 am and everyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for the walk and no registration is necessary. Participants are advised to bring good walking shoes and clothing appropriate to the weather conditions. For more information, call 651-2575.

The tea room at the Macphail Homestead is open for the summer and will be serving lunch after the walk. This event is part of an ongoing series of nature and forest-related walks and workshops sponsored by the Environmental Coalition of PEI and the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation.