Archive for the ‘exploring New Brunswick’ Category
A botanical life list first
Today, we drove to St. Stephen from our home near Fredericton (New Brunswick). We traveled some back roads, getting some great glimpses of the St, Croix River. The St. Croix is an international waterway, so when we look across the river, we see the United States.
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Along one stream in the drainage, we found a beyond-bright red flower I knew right away but have never seen except in photos.
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The cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) was one of the first flowers I read about when I moved to New Brunswick, but this is the first time I have seen it in bloom.
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The red colour is so bright against the darker colours of the water and leaves. The plant is pollinated by hummingbirds.
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In New Brunswick, the cardinal flower grows in wet areas, along shores and on rocky islands in streams.
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The plant is about a half-metre or more in height and bears its flowers in terminal spikes. The flower has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals; all are united into a tube at the base. The stem is erect with pointed elliptical leaves.
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Like birders, most botanists keep track of the plants they know and have seen in the field. I am delighted to add this to my list of known plants!
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Have a great day! Stay cool!
Jane
drawings of waterfalls
For me, a waterfall is the most beautiful expression of water on the landscape. The feeling of water droplets on your face, the sound of splashing water, the sight of sunlight on fast-moving water. I have tried to capture these in my collection of waterfall poems a glimpse of water fall. The book includes forty-four poems and twenty-three pencil drawings of waterfalls and other water scenes.
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We have many beautiful waterfalls here in New Brunswick. Over the years I have visited quite a few. In New Brunswick, we are lucky to have two great resources for lovers of waterfalls: a great guide by Nicholas Guitard (Waterfalls of New Brunswick: A Guide, now in its Second Edition, Goose Lane Publications), and a very active Facebook Group – Waterfalls of New Brunswick.
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My poetry book about waterfalls, ‘a glimpse of water fall,’ is now available from Westminster Books in Fredericton and from Amazon (click here). Enjoy!
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All my best,
Jane
hiding in the leaves!
On our return from our cabin last week, I saw something dark among the leaves of an old birch tree. I put the truck in reverse, in time to see two turkey vultures take off. Their red featherless heads and white beaks were in full view. A third vulture was in the tree and we managed one camera shot before he spread his wings and flew after his companions. The photo shows his glossy feathers, his red head and his huge nostril. But his white beak is hidden behind a leaf!
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Thirty years ago, turkey vultures were a rarity in New Brunswick, but today they are common and even overwinter here. They are exclusively carrion-eaters and play a role in our food chain and nutrient cycle.
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All my best
Jane
Next Authors Coffee House
Every two months, we hold an Authors Coffee House at our church– a non-denominational outreach activity for the community.
Invited authors read from their work, sell their books, answer questions about the writing process and enjoy one-another’s company.
The next event will be Thursday, November 26 at 2 PM. Our author is Neil Sampson, winner of the 2018 Bailey Poetry Prize (Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick) for his manuscript “Apples on the Nashwaak.” His book will appeal to anyone with a bit of Irish in their heart! Hope to see you there!
Neil’s book is available for purchase at Chapel Street Editions (click here).
in an orchard
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orchard
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between apples, twigs and leaves
stems and branches
are glimpses
of sky
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sapphire and cerulean
panes of leaded
transparent
glass
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molten in motions of wind
edges in
malleable
light
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fragile as blades of bent grass
stiffened by frozen
morning
dew
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Copyright 2019 Jane Tims
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All my best,
Jane
fetching water
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fetching water
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‘Strength in those arms,’
says Mama. ‘Fetch
me a bucket
of cold water
from the well.’
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‘Need one of those
pumps,’ says Papa.
‘Painted iron,
hornbeam handle.’
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‘No need,’ says Thomas.
‘I know how to drop
the bucket
so she fills
the first time.
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‘Echoes lift
from well-stones.
My face down there,
winks on the water.
Strength in these arms.’
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Copyright 2019 Jane Tims
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All my best,
Jane
hauling wood
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hauling wood
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The draft horse answers
to a click, a shake
of the reins, the squawk
of a blue jay, flushed
from the thicket. Long
tail hairs scatter flies.
Chain rings, loops around
the log, its cut end
a brake, ploughs up duff.
Nostrils flare and hooves
find gain in gather
of leaves, paw for ground.
Lather under tack,
he lowers his head.
Takes the woodlot incline
as though he’s navigated
these hardwoods
all of his life.
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Copyright 2019 Jane Tims
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All my best,
Jane
Canada lilies by the highway
On a drive to Chipman today we came back via the old Trans Canada (now Highway 105) through Grand Lake Meadows. The Canada lily (also called meadow lily), Lilium canadense, is in bloom. Each plant holds its lily chandelier above the other field vegetation. They are bright orange with dark spots and hang downward.
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This seems to be the time of year for lilies. I have three varieties of day-lily in my garden and when one finishes its blooming, another begins.
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All my best,
Jane
three yellows
On Sunday, we went for a drive along New Brunswick Route 615, eventually travelling from Mactaquac to Nackawic. A pleasant drive, climbing into the hills of this part of New Brunswick.
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Early into our drive, a theme suggested itself … the yellow flowers of spring. These included the daffodil and the blazing Forsythia (Forsythia sp.) … a deciduous shrub with copious yellow blooms.
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Another yellow flower crowding the edges of almost every ditch, was Tussilago farfara or Coltsfoot. The flowers have been in bloom a couple of weeks and will soon set their white fluffy seed. After the flowers have faded, the leaves will appear, big green ears seemingly unrelated to the yellow flowers of spring.
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At the foot of a farmer’s field, we saw another yellow flower, usually found in wooded wet areas or in hardwoods. The mottled green and purple leaves are the first identifying feature. Close-up, the nodding yellow flower with its recurved petals and drooping stamens show this is the Dog’s Tooth Violet, or Yellow Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum).
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Today, my yellow tulips are blooming, yet another addition to the yellow flowers of this season.
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All my best,
Jane
A granite water trough
One of my favourite drives is Route 102 in southern New Brunswick. It follows the Saint John River and goes through the villages of Hampstead and Evandale. There are many sights along the way, but one of my favourite stops is near Hampstead, at a road-side spring. The spring flows all year long and is distinct from other springs … the water flows cold and clear into a rounded trough carved from granite from a local quarry.
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This trough was made from Spoon Island granite, hollowed out by Andrew Hamilton (1796 – 1882) … The trough is fed from a spring through a hand-bored wooden pipe. The spring is located on his 200 acre homestead.
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For more information on rock quarries in south-western New Brunswick see a thorough paper by Gwen Martin, ‘ The Granite Industry of Southwestern New Brunswick: A Historical Perspective’ http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/en/pdf/Minerals-Minerales/PG_2013-1.pdf . The paper also describes the complex subject of granite rock, describes the sources of granite for many of New Brunswick’s beautiful buildings and monuments, and includes histories of some of our famous New Brunswick geologists including Loring Bailey (Bailey Hall on the UNB campus) and Abraham Gesner (Gesner Elementary in Oromocto).
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A view of the Saint John River along a section of Route 102 …. our cabin is somewhere among the trees across the river
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All my best,
Jane
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