Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventire Day 16, July 14Today was a good day; sunshine, no fog and light winds. This is the day we did the Fundy Ridge trail, 5,.4 kilometres and a 160 metre (500 foot) vertical ascent. It was much harder than it appears. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Highlights
OverviewHikers will experience an old-growth forest ecosystem and breathtaking views of Advocate Bay. The trail descends at McGahey Brook with steps to the beach. It is about a 1.5-km (0.9-mi.) hike back along the shore (take note that a high tide may delay your return trip).
Trailhead: Red Rocks Visitor Centre Significant Feature: Old growth forests, ocean scenery, beach access Length: 5.4 kilometres (3.3 miles) return Hiking Time: 2–3 hours Elevation: 150 metres (500 feet) Cape Chignecto is a 5,951-hectare natural environment park on a dramatic coastal peninsula. This park offers you an opportunity to appreciate some of the most pristine natural features found in Nova Scotia. Towering 185-metre-high cliffs, 29 kilometres (18 miles) of coastline, some of Nova Scotia's most significant geological features, deep valleys, sheltered coves, old growth forests and the world's highest tides can all be found here. The spectacular scenery and the wilderness experience will bring you back time after time. Visitors wishing to enjoy wilderness hiking and camping must use the Red Rocks Visitor Centre entrance at 1108 West Advocate Road – GPS N45 20.975 W64 49.414. Eatonville day-use park visitors must travel the West Apple River Road to the entrance at the Eatonville Visitor Centre – GPS N45 25.300 W64 53.657. (The centre is closed until further notice; however, the trails remain open.) A park or camping permit is required and visitors must check in and out of the park so we know you are safe. The park season is from the May long weekend through to the Thanksgiving weekend in October. For your comfort and safety: • The tidal range and steep cliffs may trap unwary hikers. The tide rises and falls at a rate of 1 inch per minute. • Hiking along the beach west of McGahey Brook is not permitted. • Approach cliffs only at designated viewing areas. The cliff line is constantly eroding and may be unstable. • The Cape Chignecto ecosystem is unique and may be fragile. Do not remove or damage plants and wildlife. • No open fires are permitted at back-country campsites. Fires are only permitted at designated walk-in campsites (fire grills) at New Yarmouth. • Pack out all garbage. • Boil, filter or treat all water before consuming. • Weather may be unpredictable. Bring all-weather gear and comfortable hiking boots. • Do not approach large mammals such as moose and black bear. • For your own safety, please stay on the trail. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bald Eagle on the Beach Near the Ascent Point to the Fundy Ridge
Blind Photograph of Blue-headed Vireo
Canada Hawkweed on the Trail
Cape d'Or Photograph Taken Later This Day
Eastern Bluebirds are Getting More Wary, Perhaps a Sign of Good Things to Come
Eastern Toad on Fundy Ridge
Forget Me Not
Photos in Order of Our Trek to the Fundy Ridge
Indian Pipe, an Unusual Plant that has no Chlorophyll ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Monotropa uniflora
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Monotropa uniflora, also known as ghost plant, ghost pipe or Indian pipe, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to temperate regions of Asia, North America and northern South America, but with large gaps between areas.[1][2] The plant is sometimes completely waxy white, but often has black flecks or pale pink coloration.[3] Rare variants may have a deep red color. Taxonomy and backgroundIt was formerly classified in the family Monotropaceae, but is now included within the Ericaceae. It is of ephemeral occurrence, depending on the right conditions (moisture after a dry period) to appear full grown within a couple of days. Unlike most plants, it is white and does not contain chlorophyll.[4] Instead of generating energy from sunlight, it is parasitic, and more specifically a mycoheterotroph. Its hosts are certain fungi[4] that are mycorrhizal with trees, meaning it ultimately gets its energy from photosynthetic trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments as in the understory of dense forest. It is often associated with beech trees.[5] The complex relationship that allows this plant to grow also makes propagation difficult. Like most mycoheterotrophic plants, M. uniflora associates with a small range of fungal hosts, all of them members of Russulaceae.[6] DescriptionThe stems reach heights of 5–30 centimetres (2.0–11.8 in), sheathed with highly reduced leaves 5–10 millimetres (0.20–0.39 in) long, best identified as scales or bracts. These structures are small, thin, and translucent; they do not have petioles but instead extend in a sheath-like manner out of the stem. As its scientific name suggests, and unlike the related Monotropa hypopitys (but like the close relation Monotropastrum humile), the stems bear a single flower 10–20 millimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long, with 3–8 translucent petals, 10–12 stamens and a single pistil.[7][8][9][10] It flowers from early summer to early autumn, often a few days after rainfall. The fruit, an oval capsule-like structure, enlarges and becomes upright when the seeds mature, at this point stem and capsule looking desiccated and dark brown or black. The seeds of M. uniflora are small, ranging between 0.6-0.8 mm in length.[11] EcologyThe flowers of M. uniflora are visited by various bee and fly species, most commonly bumblebees.[12] Bumblebees are an important pollen dispersal agent for the plant. GeneticsMonotropa uniflora is found in three general distribution areas: Asia, North America, and Central and northern South America. DNA analysis has shown that these three populations are genetically distinct from one another.[1] Furthermore, the North American population and the Central/South American population appear to be more closely related to each other than either are related to the Asian population. M. uniflora has 48 chromosomes.[13] UsageThe plant has been used as a nervine in herbal medicine since the late nineteenth century.[14] Gallery__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Indian Pipe on Fundy Ridge
Late Day Clouds
Least Sandpiper, Our First Shorebirds The peeps, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover will arrive on mass the third week of July
Raven
Red Hawkweed
European Starling This amazing bird is more a kin to humans than other bird species; intelligent, gregarious, aggressive, devoted to their young and highly adaptable.
White-winged Crossbills They are everywhere now and I still have not used my big telephoto-wait for it.
Yellow Warbler
Keywords:
Birds of Nova Scotia,
Canada,
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park,
Fundy Ridge Trail,
Indian Pipe,
Nova Scotia
|