Barb Haley, Watershed Watch Chair

My Observations

Date: August 27, 2024 @1300pm

Area: Some sort of old road on the north side of Eneas Creek

Temperature: 26C

Weather: Gorgeous day

Visibility: Perfect

Conditions: Humid but lovely

Observations: So the gang and i cruised up the Bolivar Road to a trail that I noticed (existing moto trail) that I checked out long ago, but never got all the way down to the creek.

Today was that day! The trail appears to be some sort of very old access road starting in a cut block from when the Bolivar Spur was constructed, but quickly led down the mountain side within a beautiful mixed foerst! I thought that maybe this road was orignally made from and early logging adventure, but I could not find any evidence of stumps from that time. The forest was well mixed with assorted trees (deciduous, firs, pines) and many shubs and understory. Some areas looked kind of overgrown with lots of old dead fall and snags. We passed through sections that were drier and more open, and other sections that were damp and very lush – especially as we neared the creek. I really wanted to check out Peachland Creek up here, to get an idea of what it looks like this far upstream. And I needed the walk, very theraputic and cathartic.

Lots of really cool things to see! Didn’t see much for wildlife other than one Grouse (who successfully stayed hidden for 3 dogs, but fluttered off as I passed) and 1 squirrel (that the doggos also missed!). But I did hear a clamor of birds in the canopy, a bunch of squirrels and an eagle.

Interesting place to put a nest…

Bees are still Bizzee at work!

Western Pearly Everlasting

Fireweed Apparently the shoots can be used in salads without blanching, or how about a quick saute in olive oil sprinkled with sea salt and add a drizzle of a wee bit of balsamic vinegar? Good source of vitiamin C and A. I have read that fireweed can be used as a tobacco substitue and as a poultice to draw out infections too!

Chicory Tasty leaves in the spring and fall (heat makes them bitter). Great for tossed salads after blanching. Maature greann leaves can also be used as a cooked vegetable! The root is also edible as are the flowers which are very bitter! I have also heard that the root can be used as coffee, but I have yet to find a root that i can prcess as such, or the proper method to do s.

Snack Bar?

Clitocyboid?? Don’t think this is a Deathcap….

Bride’s Bonnet, Queen’s Cup, Bead Lily Berries are apparently poisonous to humans. The flowers are pollinated by bees, flies and beetles. Culturally, the beery has been used medicinally and as a dye plant. Apparently, this is a long-lived species that can live up to 30 years plus! The seed is slow growing and may take up to 4 years to flower when grown from seed, although it can be propagated from its rhizome.

Tawny Funnel Cap Considered to be edible but poor quality and not worthwhile.

False Solomon’s Seal berries Ripe when they turn red and the berry contains one, large hard seed within a firm skin. Just beneatht the skin is a layer of leyy-like sweet fruit. Suck the sweet pulp out and discard the hard seed. (careful….large quantities of the fruit can be somewhat of a laxative!)