My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[fermi de Sousa]

More sowing to be done this weekend.

Reminds me of a line out of "Fiddler on the Roof": and who does Mama teach to mend and SOW and fix....

[Lesley Cox]

I've done it again, haven't I?

[fermi de Sousa]

I've done it again, haven't I?

No, just my sense of humus.
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

No I haven't. I DO mean SOW not SEW.

[fermi de Sousa]

No I haven't. I DO mean SOW not SEW.

exactly

[Kristl Walek]

A new law in Ontario (proclaimed June, 2008) makes it illegal to grow or possess a number of species that are endangered in this province, although some species might be widespread in other parts of North America.

My sense of the legislation (if *really* adddressing threatened species throughout the province) is that it was written from the narrow perspective of southern Ontario (seat of provincial power).

For instance, Rhododendron canadense exists in only two locations in the province (and in one of those locations is almost non-existant). I have shown you the other location, which is Alfred Bog, close to where I live. Yet this species is not on the verboten list. Yet, most plant species that are in the northern part of their range only in southern Ontario are included (such as Liatris spicata).

But what is, or is not included on the forbidden list is hardly my problem with the legislation---but the fact that it makes it illegal to GROW any of the listed plants (in the name of conservation). The fact that I grow Ptelea trifoliata, Cercis canadensis, Gymnocarpum dioicum, and yes, even Liatris spicata here on my 8 acres means I am infringing this new law. Should I be removing them? Cutting down 25 year old trees, so that they may be conserved?

I have been told that exemptions may be made for botanical institutions, perhaps businesses....but I have heard nothing further. In my discussions with the powers that be, I used Panax quinquefolius (American Ginseng) as my specific example. It has been largely wiped out in the wild in North America due to wild crafting for the economic benefit of homeopathy. In the USA it has been "farmed" for many years to supply the market, and is readily available.

As a conscientious seed collector, I never collected endangered plants or seed from the wild.  Instead, I
worked on establishing them from seed on my own property. Some plants (such as the Ginseng) took many years of work to have a large enough population to make the endangered seed available from my own stock. Now I am not to grow the plants here, neither am I to sell the seed (if the origin of the seed is Ontario). To make this even more convoluted----I "may" be able to sell seed of the endangered species, if I purchase them from a jurisdiction where they are not endangered.

For someone who already believes that all the plant species on our fair earth are threatend (almost always because of corporate economic interests), any further restriction on what we may grow is something that deeply concerns me. Rather than pull back, or restrict, we should be growing plants like crazy---just to ensure they remain on the planet. To limit individual gardeners, rather than address the real problem (the environment and loss of habitat for plants) is of course, the usual convoluted method of government.

And I have always been a rebel.

So, today I harvested Panax quinquefolius---and a bumper year it was, with all the rain. Large, well-developed pods on healthy plants. Will I list it in my catalogue? I think I have no choice.

[Kristl Walek]

Prickly Ash (Xanthoxylum americanum) is not normally something I collect, or want to collect---but it was on my list this year from the Mustila Arboretum in Finland, for their North American collection. It is not a pleasant experience to deal with the stout, sharp thorns on the branches---yet the beautiful lemon scent of the foliage and the berries is a plus, and the seeds are quite beautiful, lining the branches.

The first Viburnum of the season has been collected: V. recognitum (a small species growing in low, moist areas) with wonderful blue seed.

Also collected were the ripe, white berries of Symphoricarpus albus (Snowberry), which grows in shady woods here.

Cornus rugosa, picked from various clones in the wild has berries in various shades of blue on beautiful pink stalks.

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely, lovely seeds. (Almost) better than rubies and sapphires!

I think you're doing everything possible and reasonable Kristl. Your situation shows how absolutely, indefensibly stupid the bureaucracy can be - and almost always is.

[Maggi Young]

Oh dear, Kristl, the idiocy of government is enough to drive one crazy..... where is there any sense in these daft rulings ?  What is it about positions of power that renders any degree of common sense extinct ?


I have to admit, again, that some of the plants you show us are completely new to me and I rejoice in learning about them and in seeing, through your photos, so many of their intimate details. These seeds and fruits are a wonder, as are the super little sculptures left behind, as with the Panax stalk ....all a pleasure to behold. Thank you!

[Katherine J]

Oh dear, Kristl, the idiocy of government is enough to drive one crazy..... where is there any sense in these daft rulings ?  What is it about positions of power that renders any degree of common sense extinct ?


I have to admit, again, that some of the plants you show us are completely new to me and I rejoice in learning about them and in seeing, through your photos, so many of their intimate details. These seeds and fruits are a wonder, as are the super little sculptures left behind, as with the Panax stalk ....all a pleasure to behold. Thank you!

Very well told, I have only to second all these.

[Katherine J]

Maggi,
shouldn't be put also this thread in the "Memorable topics"?

[Maggi Young]

Kata, I could not agree with you more.... and so it shall be done!

[Kristl Walek]

Kathrine and Maggi....I feel honoured...
Thank you

[Maggi Young]

No need for thanks, Kristl, look at the number of people who have read these pages.... currently almost six thousand !! Well deserved, my dear!

[Kristl Walek]

Today was spent in four sites, one of which you have seen before.

After a very hot day followed by violent thunderstorms, temperatures dropped to a cool 20C today and sunny...a near perfect day for my temperament and for spending the day in the wild.

First, a quick stop to photograph another of our choice little ferns, Woodsia ilvensis, in situ.
It grows on acid rocks in full sun in an area not far from home. It has a wonderful, thick, hairy texture.

It's the first year I have ever been able to obtain any spores from this fern.