BOTANY BC Program

Metchosin/Sooke

Thursday June 26 – Sunday June 29, 2014

 

Plant lists:

·         Jordan & San Juan Ridge

·         Jordan Ridge (Meadows)

·         Vascular Plants of Metchosin

·         Algae of Metchosin

Field trip info:

Botany BC 2014 Field trip descriptions

 

Botany BC is an annual gathering of professional and amateur botanists from British Columbia and nearby areas.  This year it will feature botanical forays from seashore to rainforest to ridge, with a special focus on the special natural and cultural settings around sunny Sooke and Metchosin, BC. 

 

                                                                          

Please check the Botany BC website for updates. http://www.members.shaw.ca/botanybc/ 

 

 

Thursday, June 26th

 

after 3 pm: for those who are staying at Pearson College you can check into the College, find your room and get settled, explore the grounds.  Follow the signs from the parking lot to the registration/check-in site which will be located close to the Dining Hall/Academic building from 3 - @ 5:30pm.

 

6:00–7:00 pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall at Pearson College for those staying at the college - Package A, and for those who added it as an option to Package B.

 

after 7:00 pm: join us in the Max Bell Hall in Bldg #2, on the Pearson College grounds map. for registration finalization/package pickup and field trip sign up.  Please park in the parking lot at the end of the Main Rd and walk back up to the theatre.  There is very limited parking at the theatre and these spots are primarily reserved for those with reduced mobility or for pick up and drop off of passengers or equipment.

 

7:10 pm: Andy MacKinnon: Welcome and information about the coming days

 

7:20 pm: - Welcome by First Nation representative (tentative)

 

7:30 pm: - Welcome by Pearson College Director, David Hawley

 

7:40 pm: - Richard Hebda:  Origins and Development of our Modern Terrestrial Coastal Ecosystems

 

8:10 pm: - Michael Hawkes:  Seaweeds of the West Coast of Vancouver Island

 

8:40 pm: - Hans Roemer:  San Juan Ridge Area - A Botanical Introduction

 

        

Friday, June 27th

 

Have a hearty breakfast and pack up your lunch for the full day trip! 

 

7:00 am - Breakfast in the dining room +  lunch pick up (if you are staying at the College)

 

8:30 - 5:00 pm - meet in the parking lot at Pearson College before heading out for the day.  Four field trip options for the day (see Field trip descriptions posted on the website for more details).

 

·         Seaweeds & Seashore which starts the day at Whiffin Spit exploring the seashore and local seaweeds with Michael Hawkes followed by a trip to Sandcut Beach, known for its trail system through coastal hemlock/cedar forest and its 3.5 km cobble beach and interesting geologic formations.

 

·         Full day at San Juan Ridge hiking the high elevation trail with Hans Roemer.  Participants will cover the area from tower back door to Elk Lake.  Opportunities to see Erythronium montanum in the woods. (this trip is being offered both Friday and Saturday)

 

·         Another opportunity to explore the San Juan Ridge with a less emphasis on hiking led by Agnes Lynn.  Easier access to botanically interesting areas for those that would like the slower pace. (this trip is being offered both Friday and Saturday)

 

·         Witty's Lagoon trip that will cover the full length of the lagoon trail (approx 5 km) through Garry oak and arbutus forest & salt water marshes led by Andy MacKinnon. There will also be an ethnobotany and medicinal plant component to the day lead by local experts.

 

6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner at the Pearson College for all participants


Evening speakers & activities (times are approximate) in the Max Bell Hall:

 

7:30 pm – Moralea Milne & Andy MacKinnon: Metchosin bioblitz

 

8:15 pm - Nick Massey: The Ocean beneath your feet - Geology of the Metchosin - Sooke area 

 

9:30 -  Informal Botany theme song Sing along & social gathering around the campfire (weather dependent) -  BYOMI/B. If you are more musically inclined, bring your favourite plant song lyrics and headlamps and we'll join in on your songs. 

 

Saturday June 28th

 

Have a hearty breakfast and pack up your lunch for the full day trip!  Package A participants will pick up bagged lunches from the Dining Hall

 

7:00 am - Breakfast in the dining room +  lunch pick up (if you are staying at the College)

 

8:30 - @ 5:00 pm - meet in the parking lot at Pearson College before heading out for the day.  Four field trip options for the day. (see Field trip descriptions posted on the website for more details).

 

 

·          Jordan Ridge Meadows tour focusing on low elevation subalpine bog plants with detail on sphagnums led by Karen Golinski, Hans Roemer & Adolf & Oluna Ceska. 

·         Full day at San Juan Ridge hiking the high elevation trail with Andy MacKinnon.  Participants will cover the area from tower back door to Elk Lake.  Opportunities to see Erythronium montanum in the woods

 

·         Another opportunity to explore the San Juan Ridge with a less emphasis on hiking led by Agnes Lynn.  Easier access to botanically interesting areas for those that would like the slower pace.

 

·         Botanical mountain hike with Joel Ussery and James and Kristen Miskelly.  This will be a full day hike with a lush forested & an open upland portion.  The latter will feature a mosaic of dry Douglas-fir / shore pine/ Arbutus woods, rocky parts and undisturbed grass balds.  Botanical features include native grasses, early-summer flowers and some rare plants. Be prepared for rough terrain.

 

6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner at the Pearson College for all participants

 

Evening speakers & activities (times are approximate) in the Little Lecture Theatre - Bldg #6 on the Pearson College grounds map:

 

7:10 pm - Andy MacKinnon will lead the annual Botany BC discussion (aka: “Where in the province are we going next year?”)

 

7:30 pm - Erica Wheeler: The Vascular Flora of BC project

 

8:15 pm - James Miskelly: Oak Woodland and Meadow Restoration at Rocky Point

 

9:00 pm – Informal sing along and social time around the campfire or gazebo (weather dependent)

 

 

Sunday, June 29th

 

7:00 am - Breakfast in the dining room (if you are staying at the College) + check out by 10 am. Package A participants will pick up bagged lunches from the Dining Hall

 

8:30 am – field trips - circle tour from Sooke to Mesachie Lake - people are welcome to join the tour for as long and far as they wish but do not need to go all the way to Mesachie. 

1.   Avatar Grove with Joan Varley of Ancient Forest Alliance / Big Lonely Doug / other stops on circle tour

2.   Botanical Beach - self guided

3.   Tugwell Creek Farm and Meadery (http://tugwellcreekfarm.com/)

 

 

Additional information and details about field trips are now posted on the BBC website.