Mid- to Late Summer Wildflowers in 13 from the Archives 17 High Park Savanna in the News 16
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Number 581, September 2011 Baltimore butterfly, Glendon Ravine, July 9, 2011, photographed by Carol Sellers (see page 6) REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 18 Extracts from Outings Reports 8 For Reading 12 Mid- to Late Summer Wildflowers in 13 From the Archives 17 High Park Savanna In the News 16 Keeping in Touch 11 Nature Pix Tips 14 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Monthly Meeting Report 7 TFN members in the News 15 President’s Report 6 TFN Outings 4 Weather – This Time Last Year 19 TFN 581-2 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President Bob Kortright which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Wendy Rothwell to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President monthly September to December and February to May. & Outings Margaret McRae Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Sec.-Treasurer Walter Weary of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Communications Alexander Cappell printed on 100% recycled paper. Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler Monthly Lectures Corinne McDonald ISSN 0820-636X Nature Reserves Marcus Feak Webmaster Lynn Miller Elisabeth Gladstone IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! We welcome contributions of original writing, up to 500 MEMBERSHIP FEES words, of observations on nature in and around Toronto, $20 YOUTH (under 26) reviews, poems, sketches, paintings, and photographs of $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) TFN outings (digital or print, include date and place). $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) Include your name, address and phone number so submissions can be acknowledged. Send by mail or email. No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send Deadline for submissions for October issue: Sept. 9. membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Karin Fawthrop, Nancy Fredenburg, Toronto Field Naturalists Elisabeth Gladstone, Mary Lieberman, Judy Marshall, Ruth 2 Carlton St, # 1519, Toronto M5B 1J3 Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Tel: 416-593-2656 Printing and mailing: Perkins Mailing Services Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Email: [email protected] Fuzzy foot mushrooms, watercolour by D.A. White. September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-3 TFN MEETING Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 2:30 pm From Earthstars to Destroying Angels: A Look at Toronto's Charismatic Mycoflora Richard Aaron, naturalist and TFN member. VISITORS WELCOME! SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm Room 001, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, 75 Queen’s Park Cres E Emmanuel College is just south of the Museum subway station exit (east side of Queen’s Park). Enter at south end of building, down a few steps on outside stairwell. Wheelchair entrance: second door south on Queen’s Park. Elevator inside to the right. Room 001 is one floor below street level. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture. Note: the 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held prior to our lecture on October 2nd. ONTARIO NATURE 2011-2012 Lecture Series Rally for Nature Oct 2 Dragonflies & Damselflies Colin Jones, Project Biologist, September 21, 11:00 – 1:00 pm Natural Heritage Information Queens Park south side Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Join with other supporters of nature as ON’s Biodiversity Charter for Ontario and over 5,500 Nov 6 Ontario’s Far North signatures are handed over to the province. The charter Justina Ray, Executive Director, outlines what the Province needs to do to stop Wildlife Conservation Society the loss of biodiversity by 2020 Canada Please spread the word and help us gather hundreds Dec 4 What Species of Creatures: of people together to make sure that nature’s voice is Animal Relations from the New heard during the provincial election World Sharon Kirsch, freelance editor For more information or to get involved visit and writer ontarionature.org/rally4nature or contact Kimberley MacKenzie at [email protected] TFN 581-4 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011 TFN OUTINGS • TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers. • The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities. • Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. • If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain. • Please do not bring pets. • To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules (www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636). • Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear. • Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven. Thur TAYLOR CREEK – Wildflowers Sept 1 Leader: Melanie Milanich 10:00 am Meet at Main subway station. Bring binoculars and lunch. Not circular, option to continue along high ridge west of Woodbine bridge along the hydro path possibly ending near Coxwell and O’Connor. Sat WARDEN WOODS AND ST CLAIR RAVINE – Nature arts Sept 3 Leader: Joe Bernaske 10:30 am Meet at the Warden Woods Park entrance at the southwest corner of Warden Ave and St Clair Ave E across from Warden subway station. Bring what you need for drawing, photography or writing, and anything you want to share with the group during lunch. Bring lunch. Sun YELLOW CREEK – Topography Sept 4 Leader: Alexander Cappell 2:00 pm Meet at the southeast corner of Yonge St and Heath St E. Walk will end at Sherbourne subway station. Wed ETIENNE BRULE AND JAMES GARDENS – Birds and Butterflies Sept.7 Leader: Carol Sellers 10:00 am Meet at Old Mill subway station for a circular walk with dropouts. Bring lunch and binoculars. Sat HIGH PARK – Getting to know grasses Sept 10 Leader: Joanne Doucette 10:00 am Explore the native grasses in the rare and unique black oak savannah at High Park. Meet at the main entrance to High Park at Bloor St W and High Park Ave. Bring lunch Sun LECTURE – From Earthstars to Destroying Angels: Sept 11 A Look at Toronto’s Charismatic Mycoflora. 2:30 pm Speaker: Richard Aaron, naturalist and TFN member Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3. Tue ASHBRIDGES BAY – Birds Sept 13 Leader: Doug Paton 10:00 am Meet in front of the library just east of Queen St E and Lee Ave. Bring binoculars. About 2 ½ hours. Lots of lunch spots at termination of walk. Sat GLENDON CAMPUS AND RAVINE – Heritage and Nature Sept 17 Leaders: Nancy Dengler and John Court 2:00 pm Meet at the TTC bus stop on the southeast corner of Bayview Ave and Lawrence Ave E for a circular walk. September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-5 Sun LAVENDER CREEK – Lost Rivers Sept 18 Leaders: Cameron Groves and Richard Anderson 2:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Gunns Rd and Weston Rd. Explore the lower course of Rowntree-Lavender Creek, an urban watercourse whose restoration potential is as obvious as the abuse it has suffered. This is a creek which badly needs more friends. A joint walk with the Toronto Green Community. Wed HUMBER RIVER – Nature Walk Sept 21 Leader: Ed Freeman 1:30 pm Meet at the northeast corner of Scarlett Rd and Eglinton Ave W for a walk along the Humber River northward to Weston and coffee at Loblaws before taking a bus back home. About 2 ½ hour walk. Sat LESLIE STREET SPIT – Nature Walk Sept 24 Leader: Karen McDonald 9:30 am Meet at park entrance at Leslie St and Unwin Ave for a look at the flora and fauna of the Leslie Street Spit. Bring binoculars. Morning only. Sun MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk Sept 25 Leader: Brian MacFarlane, President of Curran Hall Community Association 2:00 pm Meet at corner of Botany Hill Rd and Plover Rd (Lawrence 54 Orton Park bus to Brimorton Dr) and follow the arrows to starting point for a hike along the wild side of Morningside Park on hilly dirt trails. Bring your walking stick if you have one. Learn about the restoration projects on Highland Creek and watch for spawning salmon. Wed WILKET CREEK AND SUNNYBROOK PARKS – Nature, Fungi Sept 28 Leader: Pat Burchell, Past President of Mycological Society of Toronto 10:00 am Meet at TTC bus stop on Leslie St at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave E for a circular walk. Morning only. Jim Baillie Work Parties Need You ! We plan some work parties this fall to install more boardwalks in the Jim Baillie Nature Reserve to make it more user friendly, and there are several opportunities to help. The building and installation work will be done in October and November on site, probably midweek, but weekends are a possibility if there are people who want to do it on a weekend. We plan to have the lumber delivered to the reserve. We will have to saw the crossbars on site and assemble with nails or screws and carry the sections to their installation locations. We would be grateful to hear from people who have experience constructing boardwalks who might help us plan the work. Experience is not necessary for helpers. We hope some members will bring hand saws, hammers, screw drivers, battery powered equipment etc. Car pooling will be arranged. Please contact Margaret McRae if you are willing to help, and you will be contacted to discuss details. TFN 581-6 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Summer gives some TFN volunteers a break from the our key decisions concerned our grant program.