Number 612 May 2015 Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) in High Park. Photo: Wendy Rothwell. See p. 2 REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 25 Volunteer Opportunities 9, 11, 18 Extracts from Outings Reports 13, 27 20 For Reading Nominating Committee Report 13 21 From the Archives Toronto Wildflowers: Poppy Family 15 23 In the News Results of TFN Membership Survey 16 Keeping in Touch 20 Mushroom “Root System” and Amanitas 19 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Biological Inventories in the Toronto 21 Monthly Meeting Report 14 Watershed President’s Report 12 TFN Grant Reports: Toronto Botanical 22 TFN Outings 4 Gardens and Toronto Wildlife Centre Weather – This Time Last Year 24 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 27 TFN 612-2 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2015 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and President & to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler monthly September to December and February to May. Past-President & Outings Margaret McRae Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Vice-President, Nature Charles Bruce- of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Reserves & Outings Thompson printed on 100% recycled paper. Secretary-Treasurer Charles Crawford Communications Alexander Cappell ISSN 0820-636X Newsletter & Membership Vivienne Denton Nature Arts Joanne Doucette IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Outreach Stephen Kamnitzer We welcome contributions of original writing on nature Webmaster & Newsletter Lynn Miller (short or long, but no more than 500 words). We also Monthly Lectures & Grants Lavinia Mohr welcome reports, reviews, poems, sketches, paintings and Audit & Finance Anne Powell digital photographs. Please include “Newsletter” in the subject line when sending by email, or on the envelope if sent by mail. MEMBERSHIP FEES $20 YOUTH (under 26) Please re-name digital photographs with the subject and $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) your name (abbreviations ok); scale your photos to less than $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) 200kb each. In the accompanying email include location, $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) date and any interesting story or other information associated with the photograph. No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send membership Deadline for submissions for September, August 4 fees and address changes to the TFN office. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Vivienne Denton, Karin Fawthrop, Toronto Field Naturalists 1519-2 Carlton St, Toronto M5B 1J3 Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Judy Marshall, Lynn Miller, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Tel: 416-593-2656 Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Printing and mailing: Perkins Services Inc. Email: [email protected] Note: The TFN office is open on Fridays from 9:30 am to noon. ON THE COVER Note from the Editors: This photo of harebells was taken by Wendy Rothwell in This is the last issue of the newsletter for the 2014 High Park where it is grown up in park greenhouses and -2015 year. We welcome Lynn Miller onto the planted in savannah restoration. It is often available at Editorial Committee. Lynn has undertaken to High Park’s Native Plant Sale held every May. organize our ever-growing collection of digital Harebell is native to northern Europe (including the U.K.) images as well as prepare items for In The News. and North America. It is a member of the bellflower Thanks to all our committee members for their family, Campanulaceae. Its genus name Campanula is proofreading efforts, especially for making sure for its bell-shaped flowers and its that members will arrive at the correct time and species name rotundifolia is for its place for TFN’s many outings. round basal leaves which have often withered away by the time the Thanks also to everyone who has contributed plant flowers. The leaves on the articles, notices, information, drawings and flowering stems are small and photos. This is your newsletter! Please linear. remember to send us your writing about nature - whether a short anecdote or a series of articles. See TFN newsletter 597 (Sept Drawings, paintings and photographs are always 2013) for an article on the bellfower welcome too. See you in September! family in Toronto by Peter Money May 2015 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 612-3 TFN MEETING Sunday, May 3, 2015, 2:30 pm Toronto’s Urban Forests Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF will bring us up to date on the state of Toronto’s forests VISITORS WELCOME! SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm Due to high cost, TFN has stopped providing beverages. You are welcome to bring your own and to take them into the lecture room. Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen's Park Cres East Immediately southeast of Emmanuel College, south of the Museum subway station exit on the east side of Queen’s Park. Enter on either the west or north side of the building. The west entrance is wheelchair accessible. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture. TFN Lectures 2015 – 2016 Sept 13 Your Pane is their Pain – Preventing Birds from Crashing into Windows Michael Mesure, Executive Director, Fatal Light Awareness Program Oct 4 Ashbridge’s Bay: The Natural and Human History of a Wetland Joanne Doucette, author and naturalist Nov 1 Participatory Research: Roads, Citizen Science and the War on Science. Dave Ireland, Managing Director, Biodiversity, Royal Ontario Museum Dec 6 Biomimicry: Learning from Nature’s Designs Richard Aaron, nature educator Feb 7 Historic Changes to the Flora of the Toronto Area Gavin Miller, Toronto Region Conservation Authority Biologist Mar 6 Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights: A Citizen’s Toolkit for Change Ellen Schwartzel, Deputy Commissioner, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Apr 3 Ontario’s Badgers Josh Sayers, Ontario Badger Project May 1 Ontario’s Orchids: Perpetual Beauty Worth All Costs Tom Shields, Southern Ontario Orchid Society TFN 612-4 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2015 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. Sat WILKET CREEK PARK – Trilliums and Spring Nature Walk May 2 Leader: Mary Taylor 1:30 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave E and Leslie St. This area features an impressive population of white trilliums along with other interesting spring wildflowers, and is also an interesting area for migrating birds. Sun LECTURE – TORONTO’S URBAN FORESTS May 3 Speaker: Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF 2:30 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3. Mon NINTH ANNUAL JANE JACOBS WALK – Evening Ramble May 4 Leaders: Pleasance Crawford and Helen Juhola 6:45 pm Meet at the north end of Glencairn subway station, on the south side of Glencairn Ave. This walk honours the late Jane Jacobs on the anniversary of her birth. Walk includes neighbourhoods near Allen Rd, then Ben Nobleman Park, Everden Rd and Cedarvale Park and Ravine. It ends at St Clair West subway station. Duration 2 hours. Bring binoculars. Tues ROUGE VALLEY – Birds and Spring Nature Walk May 5 Leader: Stephen Kamnitzer 10:00 am Meet at the parking lot for Rouge Park campground, 7459 Kingston Rd, 1 km east of Port Union Rd and Sheppard Ave E. Call Stephen at if you need a ride. Bring binoculars and lunch. Duration 3 to 4 hours. Easy walking on level terrain. Sat EAST DON PARKLANDS – Spring Wildflower Forest Walk May 9 Leader: Phil Goodwin 10:00 am Meet at Second Cup, Steeles Ave E and Laureleaf Rd, halfway between Bayview Ave and Leslie St. Morning only. Sun AGGIE'S WILDFLOWER WALK – Nature Walk – Humber Heritage Committee May 10 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 1:30 pm Meet at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St. Rediscover the world of Agnes Dunbar Moodie Fitzgibbon, daughter of Susanna Moodie and illustrator of Canadian Wildflowers (published in 1867). All of Aggie's specimens were from the Baby Point and Humber Valley area. Many of these flowers still survive in the Magwood Sanctuary. Approx 2 hrs ending at Lambton House for tea and a talk about Agnes. Tues THE BELTLINE – Nature Walk May 12 Leader: John Bacher 10:00 am Meet at Davisville subway station for a circular walk. Morning only. Wed TORONTO WATERFRONT AND GARDENS – Evening Ramble May 13 Leader: Peter Iveson 6:45 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Bathurst St and Queen’s Quay W beside the war memorial in Little Norway Park. Walk will conclude at the Music Garden. Sat LOWER DON WATERSHED – Spring Ramble May 16 Leader: Ed Freeman 10:00 am Meet at Davisville subway station. We will walk to the Evergreen Brickworks for lunch and on to Crothers Woods for those wishing spring flowers. Crothers Woods has some narrow, hilly dirt trails. Bring lunch and water. May 2015 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 612-5 Sun GARRISON CREEK AND SPRING CREEK INTERFLUVE (WEST TORONTO RAILPATH) – Lost Rivers May 17 Leader: Richard Anderson 2:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Dundas St W and Sterling Rd to see the ecological restoration of a disused rail corridor, repurposed as a linear park.