Nature Calls Four Years Ago Earl Plato
We were away heading west to Lake Huron. No one told me about the Review article. C’mon Plato, that’s your excuse? Truly, I missed the piece about Marcy Woods. I assume friends thought I knew. In the article Mr. Dino DiCienzo Sr. is standing before the Marcy cabin. I recently received a copy of that September piece from a reader of my nature column. Review reporter, Corey Larocque, has a good write-up for many reasons. I now have some hope. John Lessle, nature photographer from Buffalo, called the other day.
John is a wiry 86 year old. He asked, “Earl, how about chances of walking Marcy Woods this spring?” I told him that the new owners have ‘no trespassing signs’ at the Marcy farm. This is understandable.
However, good news from the new owners, the DiCienzos, for us nature lovers. Their mandate is that if visitors respect the Woods as nature lovers they are welcome there for hiking. No farm entry anymore but access through the regular entrance at the Kennels will be possible. That’s all I ask for John and me and other nature lovers. Thanks for the opportunity to visit an old friend, Marcy Woods, with an old American friend. The “Marcy Legacy” lives on. Thank you Mr. DiCienzo.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Rhino Time
Bellrhino.08 Earl Plato
We were on our second drive through the fenced African Lion Safari landscape on that bright sunny August afternoon. This time it was close-ups of the behemoth - the rhinoceros. This sunny day the rhino group rested. Only one huge beast separated himself from the small enclave. I learned that these White rhinos are gray coloured. How come “white”? Remember their native home is South Africa. Early Dutch settlers there called them “weit” rhinos. Why? It was in reference to its wide (weit) square muzzle adapted for grazing. Confusing, eh? Note these white rhinos have a pronounced hump on the neck and a long face. Two horns on all rhinos (white and black) and the bigger one sits at the front of he nose. It is that horn that is prized in Asia.. It is sought for uses in traditional medicine and ornamental carvings. Our safari rhinos are saved from that pursuit.
We were told the White rhino male is the larger of the two species - over two tons! Wow! Our big guy was over twenty years. Life span 35-40 years.
No charging at us. Their eyesight is poor which may explain why hese often ill-tempered animals will charge without apparent reason. Their sense of smell and hearing are very good. On both trips no sounds from them but we learned that they have an extended vocabulary of growls, grunts, squeaks, snorts and bellows. I can picture their charge - frightening. The white rhino lowers its head, snorts, breaks into a gallop reaching speeds of up to 30 miles an hour. Using its sharp horn it gores or strikes powerful blows with its both horns. The white rhino is very agile and can quickly turn in a small space. Would be hunters - leave him a alone.
Our White rhino was content to munch on the grass,
We were on our second drive through the fenced African Lion Safari landscape on that bright sunny August afternoon. This time it was close-ups of the behemoth - the rhinoceros. This sunny day the rhino group rested. Only one huge beast separated himself from the small enclave. I learned that these White rhinos are gray coloured. How come “white”? Remember their native home is South Africa. Early Dutch settlers there called them “weit” rhinos. Why? It was in reference to its wide (weit) square muzzle adapted for grazing. Confusing, eh? Note these white rhinos have a pronounced hump on the neck and a long face. Two horns on all rhinos (white and black) and the bigger one sits at the front of he nose. It is that horn that is prized in Asia.. It is sought for uses in traditional medicine and ornamental carvings. Our safari rhinos are saved from that pursuit.
We were told the White rhino male is the larger of the two species - over two tons! Wow! Our big guy was over twenty years. Life span 35-40 years.
No charging at us. Their eyesight is poor which may explain why hese often ill-tempered animals will charge without apparent reason. Their sense of smell and hearing are very good. On both trips no sounds from them but we learned that they have an extended vocabulary of growls, grunts, squeaks, snorts and bellows. I can picture their charge - frightening. The white rhino lowers its head, snorts, breaks into a gallop reaching speeds of up to 30 miles an hour. Using its sharp horn it gores or strikes powerful blows with its both horns. The white rhino is very agile and can quickly turn in a small space. Would be hunters - leave him a alone.
Our White rhino was content to munch on the grass,
Monday, July 7, 2008
I like Fungi
Confession Bell article by Earl Plato
Fungi Finds: I have four beautifully coloured fungi photos on my walls. The late nature photographer John Lessle from Buffalo, New York photographed all of these in Marcy Woods. I confess that I love mushrooms. We went on a walk in Marcy Woods a past spring and found different mushrooms (fungi). An expert on mushrooms led us. The late Dr. Robert Fisher PhD. of St. Catharines was our guide. Bob and his associate Eira Voth were scientists with a precise knowledge of fungi. By 10 a.m. we had signed in at Dr. Marcy’s farm and headed for the Woods. It was damp and ideal for mushroom growth. This was a three hour ramble of “find, stop, inspect, discuss, and preserve”. We found 39 fungi species. Dr. Fisher said excitedly four were new finds for him! Photos were taken of our finds. The following Monday night Bob Fisher was our guest speaker at the Bert Miller Nature Club. His slide show and his displays of fungi were outstanding. He again pointed to the danger of eating just any mushroom. Some of his examples were that of the Amanita Genus that are deadly poisonous. Bob Fisher was an accomplished nature artist and had shows throughout the Niagara peninsula. He had two of his great mushroom paintings there. Wonderful detail. Another area naturalist who will be missed.
***
On the Trail - Keith Bailey of Crescent Park on his daily walks on the Friendship Trail sees a pair of white-tailed deer. We walked to Six Mile Creek bridge on the Trail and saw a little mud turtle paddling away. To the south were a pair of mallards. Then all three of us saw a water snake swimming swiftly across the creek. A few minutes later wife, Elaine, spotted an even larger water snake also swimming from the east bank to the west side. What do you know about the Eastern water snake? They are non-venomous but ugly looking serpents. Wait! I handled one at the Ridge Fest on July 5th . Rob Eberly of the Bert Miller Nature Club said, “Want to handle one, Earl?“ I did. There not so ugly after all! Check them out on the internet then go to Six Mile Creek this early summer and try to see one, eh.
Fungi Finds: I have four beautifully coloured fungi photos on my walls. The late nature photographer John Lessle from Buffalo, New York photographed all of these in Marcy Woods. I confess that I love mushrooms. We went on a walk in Marcy Woods a past spring and found different mushrooms (fungi). An expert on mushrooms led us. The late Dr. Robert Fisher PhD. of St. Catharines was our guide. Bob and his associate Eira Voth were scientists with a precise knowledge of fungi. By 10 a.m. we had signed in at Dr. Marcy’s farm and headed for the Woods. It was damp and ideal for mushroom growth. This was a three hour ramble of “find, stop, inspect, discuss, and preserve”. We found 39 fungi species. Dr. Fisher said excitedly four were new finds for him! Photos were taken of our finds. The following Monday night Bob Fisher was our guest speaker at the Bert Miller Nature Club. His slide show and his displays of fungi were outstanding. He again pointed to the danger of eating just any mushroom. Some of his examples were that of the Amanita Genus that are deadly poisonous. Bob Fisher was an accomplished nature artist and had shows throughout the Niagara peninsula. He had two of his great mushroom paintings there. Wonderful detail. Another area naturalist who will be missed.
***
On the Trail - Keith Bailey of Crescent Park on his daily walks on the Friendship Trail sees a pair of white-tailed deer. We walked to Six Mile Creek bridge on the Trail and saw a little mud turtle paddling away. To the south were a pair of mallards. Then all three of us saw a water snake swimming swiftly across the creek. A few minutes later wife, Elaine, spotted an even larger water snake also swimming from the east bank to the west side. What do you know about the Eastern water snake? They are non-venomous but ugly looking serpents. Wait! I handled one at the Ridge Fest on July 5th . Rob Eberly of the Bert Miller Nature Club said, “Want to handle one, Earl?“ I did. There not so ugly after all! Check them out on the internet then go to Six Mile Creek this early summer and try to see one, eh.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Time Off for Earl
To my readers. As of June 9, 2008 this nature
Blog contributor, Earl Plato, is taking a month off.
BUT keep searching the web for nature offerings.
Blog contributor, Earl Plato, is taking a month off.
BUT keep searching the web for nature offerings.
Disappointed
Disappointed by Earl Plato
Disappointed? Yes. Very much so. A group of us are heading to Pelee Island this month. This southern most island in Canada is found in western Lake Erie. Beyond it and further south is a small unpopulated island. I will never see this Middle island. Yes, it has rare fauna and flora. The Nature Conservancy of Canada spent a few years ago circa 2 million dollars to purchase it. Will you ever see it? I don’t think so.
Case in point. Thousands and thousands have walked the Marcy Woods trails. This beautiful piece of land was accessible to nature lovers over the years thanks to the caring Marcys. What’s the cost? No comparison to me as to the relative value between Marcy Woods and that small uninhabited Lake Erie island. It’s obvious - the Ontario government must spear head the final effort lead by our MPP Tim Hudak. Fort Erie residents who love Marcy Woods know where Mayor Wayne Redekop stands. This is it! Preserve Marcy Woods for future generations or just have memories!
***
“Hey, Earl, you want to check out the Marcy Alvar?” Rob Eberly continues to amaze me. I like to think that I have some thirst for natural history. My writing should help to attest to that but Rob has an unquenchable thirst for our flora and fauna. More than I ever had.
Alvar? My mind tried to recall - What’s an Alvar? Look it up, eh?
Alvar is an Estonian word that describes a limestone plain covered with scattered vegetation that endures extreme wet and dry conditions. Rob was on the search for some relatively rare flora. Alvars have their own unique flora that takes advantage of the extreme variations in moisture and the highly calcified soil and bedrock openings.
The Marcy property has a strip of land fronting on Matthews Road on the east side of the farm. Exposed bed rock with old-field thickets - an ideal spot for a parking lot if the Nature Conservancy of Canada ever secures the property for nature lovers. Wait! This is Alvar country. According to Rob there are plant species that occur few other places in Canada. Yes, famed Pelee Island has Alvars too. Check the snakes and butterflies that live in the Marcy Alvar. Rob Eberly, Ridgeway naturalist, knows.
Disappointed? Yes. Very much so. A group of us are heading to Pelee Island this month. This southern most island in Canada is found in western Lake Erie. Beyond it and further south is a small unpopulated island. I will never see this Middle island. Yes, it has rare fauna and flora. The Nature Conservancy of Canada spent a few years ago circa 2 million dollars to purchase it. Will you ever see it? I don’t think so.
Case in point. Thousands and thousands have walked the Marcy Woods trails. This beautiful piece of land was accessible to nature lovers over the years thanks to the caring Marcys. What’s the cost? No comparison to me as to the relative value between Marcy Woods and that small uninhabited Lake Erie island. It’s obvious - the Ontario government must spear head the final effort lead by our MPP Tim Hudak. Fort Erie residents who love Marcy Woods know where Mayor Wayne Redekop stands. This is it! Preserve Marcy Woods for future generations or just have memories!
***
“Hey, Earl, you want to check out the Marcy Alvar?” Rob Eberly continues to amaze me. I like to think that I have some thirst for natural history. My writing should help to attest to that but Rob has an unquenchable thirst for our flora and fauna. More than I ever had.
Alvar? My mind tried to recall - What’s an Alvar? Look it up, eh?
Alvar is an Estonian word that describes a limestone plain covered with scattered vegetation that endures extreme wet and dry conditions. Rob was on the search for some relatively rare flora. Alvars have their own unique flora that takes advantage of the extreme variations in moisture and the highly calcified soil and bedrock openings.
The Marcy property has a strip of land fronting on Matthews Road on the east side of the farm. Exposed bed rock with old-field thickets - an ideal spot for a parking lot if the Nature Conservancy of Canada ever secures the property for nature lovers. Wait! This is Alvar country. According to Rob there are plant species that occur few other places in Canada. Yes, famed Pelee Island has Alvars too. Check the snakes and butterflies that live in the Marcy Alvar. Rob Eberly, Ridgeway naturalist, knows.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Reflections
The Green Dragon Earl Plato
“Remember now they Creator in the days of thy youth” The Bible gives much instruction for leading a worthwhile life. The memories of my father and his friend, Bert Miller, well up in my memory as I recall those many days when we rambled Lincoln and Welland counties. As e approach Father’s Day 2008 let us reflect on some of these relationships.
Some memories of your youth are not as clear as others. This one fits into the “fuzzy” recollection.
One Saturday ramble was close to Bert’s home in the north end of Fort Erie. Father, Perc, and I had examined Bert’s skills of grafting at his Highland home. Bert said to my father let’s go to the springs. We parked on Thompson Road and entered the thick, thorny underbrush and headed eastwards. We found a spring bubbling up with the malodorous smell of sulphur, A hundred feet further in from the bend of the creek we found a clear, flowing spring of fresh, cool water. It was so clear you good look far down into the opening. That was many decades ago. Guess what? Thanks to Rob Eberly we found that same bubbling spring and something more.
I had written recently about two Marcy Woods plants, Skunk cabbage and Duckweed. Here deep in the woods next to the bubbling spring was a rare plant. Rob Eberly had found it and I want to share a little about the Green dragon plant.
It is usually a solitary greenish plant a relative of our Jack-in-the-pulpit. Unlike the “Jack” the Green dragon has a small hood. As we looked at it we noticed that the spadix protruded several inches below the hood. This is what is called the “dragon’s tongue.” This solitary plant was about two feet high. We returned in the fall and all that was left of the tall plant were orange, red and green berries. No, I didn’t take any.
Writer’s Note: As with the Jack-in-the-pulpit, the tuberous taproot of this plant can burn the mouth severely if ingested uncooked. I still recall the cries of Jim who had bitten into the tuber of a “Jack” many years ago. Jim had been warned by our scoutmaster. Some of us learn the hard way, eh.
***
April in Marcy Woods. Neil Reichelt, nature photographer, and I walked the Lower Trail of these beloved woods. Cool, too cool. At the entrance we listened for the sounds of frogs. Not a sound! We walked in and stopped while Neil took a shot of the two towering Norway spruces. This is where we saw a Southern flying squirrel glide from the top of one tree to the other. Neil took shots all along the way. We will use them for some articles.
We approached Marcy Pond this mid March and stopped and listened. No sounds of frogs at all. What gives? Were we too late? Just a little duckweed had started growing on the north edge of the pond. Birds? The caw of a crow and the very high trill of a Winter wren - that was it. We stopped at the cabin. Several trees had fallen along the Lower trail and cut up so you could walk. However, two trees that had fallen on the Upper Trail were still laying across the pathway. We descended the steps.
Marcy Woods is in a static state now but wait. To you who love nature, Marcy Woods will break out in colorful flowers and heart warming songs in just a little while. Believe me.
“Remember now they Creator in the days of thy youth” The Bible gives much instruction for leading a worthwhile life. The memories of my father and his friend, Bert Miller, well up in my memory as I recall those many days when we rambled Lincoln and Welland counties. As e approach Father’s Day 2008 let us reflect on some of these relationships.
Some memories of your youth are not as clear as others. This one fits into the “fuzzy” recollection.
One Saturday ramble was close to Bert’s home in the north end of Fort Erie. Father, Perc, and I had examined Bert’s skills of grafting at his Highland home. Bert said to my father let’s go to the springs. We parked on Thompson Road and entered the thick, thorny underbrush and headed eastwards. We found a spring bubbling up with the malodorous smell of sulphur, A hundred feet further in from the bend of the creek we found a clear, flowing spring of fresh, cool water. It was so clear you good look far down into the opening. That was many decades ago. Guess what? Thanks to Rob Eberly we found that same bubbling spring and something more.
I had written recently about two Marcy Woods plants, Skunk cabbage and Duckweed. Here deep in the woods next to the bubbling spring was a rare plant. Rob Eberly had found it and I want to share a little about the Green dragon plant.
It is usually a solitary greenish plant a relative of our Jack-in-the-pulpit. Unlike the “Jack” the Green dragon has a small hood. As we looked at it we noticed that the spadix protruded several inches below the hood. This is what is called the “dragon’s tongue.” This solitary plant was about two feet high. We returned in the fall and all that was left of the tall plant were orange, red and green berries. No, I didn’t take any.
Writer’s Note: As with the Jack-in-the-pulpit, the tuberous taproot of this plant can burn the mouth severely if ingested uncooked. I still recall the cries of Jim who had bitten into the tuber of a “Jack” many years ago. Jim had been warned by our scoutmaster. Some of us learn the hard way, eh.
***
April in Marcy Woods. Neil Reichelt, nature photographer, and I walked the Lower Trail of these beloved woods. Cool, too cool. At the entrance we listened for the sounds of frogs. Not a sound! We walked in and stopped while Neil took a shot of the two towering Norway spruces. This is where we saw a Southern flying squirrel glide from the top of one tree to the other. Neil took shots all along the way. We will use them for some articles.
We approached Marcy Pond this mid March and stopped and listened. No sounds of frogs at all. What gives? Were we too late? Just a little duckweed had started growing on the north edge of the pond. Birds? The caw of a crow and the very high trill of a Winter wren - that was it. We stopped at the cabin. Several trees had fallen along the Lower trail and cut up so you could walk. However, two trees that had fallen on the Upper Trail were still laying across the pathway. We descended the steps.
Marcy Woods is in a static state now but wait. To you who love nature, Marcy Woods will break out in colorful flowers and heart warming songs in just a little while. Believe me.
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