My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[annew]

I think I might book in there for a holiday.. 

[cohan]

great spot! love the rocky landscape, and some really nice plnats--esp like the potentilla, rhodiola (seems like a really compact one?) among others..

[Linda_Foulis]

A little ham to go with your green eggs?  And at that price, enjoy them!
How exciting to see your pictures, thank you.  Fascinating to see that end of the country.

[Kristl Walek]

Today I spent the day in Liverpool (on the Mersey River) and didn't even have to leave the continent.

It was an outing planned by my newest friend, John, another plant fiend (who was also the real estate agent for the purchase of my Annapolis Royal property).

We planned to meet in Liverpool at 11:00am and although it was about a 1.5 hour drive for each of us; coming from different directions, I left at 7:30am; knowing my tendencies to stop en route looking at plants and I did not want to keep John waiting.

Hwy 8 goes across the province, from west to east, shore to shore. There had been frost in some areas the night before and the morning was cool (heat on in the car), but brilliant and clear. En route it was lovely to see the Acer rubrums blazing in boggy areas, with the sides of the road a mix of goldenroads and the lilac of Aster cordifolius.

A rest stop along the way brought me into a lovely stretch of woods, where I ended up walking for most of an hour---beginning to realize that most of wild Nova Scotia must be carpeted by Mitchella repens. Here too I found Epigaea repens, and to my utter delight, Chimaphila umbellata, which is rather uncommon in this province, as it was in Ontario---and all by simple, sheer luck.

The whorled aster, Aster acuminatus was also in bloom here under the tree canopy.

[Kristl Walek]

Liverpool is one of the climactic hot spots of Nova Scotia; and one sees
plants growing here that are not likely to survive in most areas of Canada.

As I was delighted to have John organize our entire agenda; our first stop was
at Cosby's Garden Center--- the sign itself speaking volumes---it is almost
unheard of (due to our cold winters) to find a nursery that is "open all year round".

The only other place in Canada I have ever seen Gunnera hardy (and blooming) was in Vancouver, BC; but here it was thriving in the nursery area. On another very exposed mini mountain was Araucaria araucana, the monkey puzzle tree, the last thing I ever expected to see in eastern Canada. The nursery was shock-full of interesting and rare woody species.

But this nursery is unique in other ways....the owner Ivan Higgins is also a sculptor whose medium (basically a refined hypertufa mixture of concrete and vermiculite)  should appeal to all of us trough-makers here. The large pieces have a metal piping structural framework and wire mesh and hardware cloth are used to create the shapes.

His work is displayed throughout the nursery grounds, and as one rounds various corners, you are confronted with yet, another piece.

[Kristl Walek]

But my favorites were a series of "athletes" installed high up on the same "mountain" as the auricaria---fantastic framed against the sky.

If  Nova Scotia ever gets chosen for the summer Olympics, his work should grace the events.

[Maggi Young]

Seems to me that Cosby's and Ivan are a real find, Kristl....

I am getting a good feeling that NS is going to suit you just fine! 

[Kristl Walek]

After a walk through this lovely (house affordable) town,  Cornus kousa in fruit on multiple front lawns, John introduced me to "perhaps his favorite restaurant in all of Nova Scotia",  just a short drive down the coast.

I was absolutely enthralled before we even entered the premises, the restaurant being perched over the ocean, with the veranda section over the rocks, which, at high tide, brings the waves just below you, as you eat.

[Kristl Walek]

Having never been to the Caribbean, I was unprepared for John's next surprise---his favorite (largely unknown) white sand beach, which we had almost entirely to ourselves.

I was quite unprepared for the brilliance of that white....with some evidence of Hurricane Bill still to be seen.

[Kristl Walek]

At the rear of the beach was a boggy area,  mostly Carex, Elymus and Limonium carolinianum---but I was eager to check out the Solidago I saw in the distance.

A nursery had put in a seed collection request for Solidago sempervirens (the Seaside Goldenrod); which I knew was common here, although very rare in Ontario. And indeed (like with the Chimaphila earlier in the day), I was lucky again. All the Solidago here was that particular species, growing in it's preferred habitat (although one can find it in drier locations).

It is one of the longest-blooming Solidago, with rather large, showy heads of tightly-packed flowers above thick, succulent foliage.

Walking further, we spied some woody species in fruit high above us, on the rocks. After a short climb, I saw my first Nova Scotia specimen of Viburnum cassinoides at it's beautiful pink-berry phase and beside it, the berries of Sorbus americana. Empetrum nigrum was at their feet, on the cliffs, and the Myrica pensylvanica, with it's wonderful scented and waxy fruits were beginning to colour.

[Kristl Walek]

By this time, it was late afternoon with a drive ahead for each of us, and mine, in particular, down a two-lane road heavily frequented by deer (dusk being the preferred time for the run across the road).

John and I parted ways at the beach, after an absolutely delightful day---and I *should have* headed home right then--and would have beat dusk---but, as usual, plants got the better of me and I had to make one last stop.

I had heard of a wonderful spot just outside Liverpool, in Milton, Nova Scotia, called Pine Grove; a 48 acre "pocket wilderness" owned and maintained by BowaterMersey, a wood and paper company and major employer in this area.

In a woodland setting along the banks of the Mersey River, Magnolia, Rhododendron and other species (native and non-native) have been introduced into the natural setting. It is a place I *must* return to next June for flowering.

Here the Mitchella was so profuse it even covered parts of the very well-maintained pathways. Large specimens of Rhodos and Magnolias were seen among the pines.

Sections of the path were lined with voluptuous hedges of Rhododendron, Comptonia, Kalmia, Cotoneaster, etc., some still in bloom.

And in the woods, in addition to the Mitchella were Cornus canadensis, Cypripediums, Gaultheria, and many other natives.

By the time I left I had a rather nerve-wracking 2 hour drive down "deer road" in full dusk to dark with 3 close-call deer crossings --- but worth every heart-stopping moment.

[Robert G]

Kristl,

Like it or not you are doing the work of the east coast/maritime tourist board! Keep up the good work. I might have to visit that part of the country sooner than later. Take care.

[Kristl Walek]

Robert,
The fall is the best time to visit the maritimes for various reasons---and most of the tourists are gone now. And you know, all friends who come for a visit will be required to bring me a load of Ontario native plants (I didn't even have space for a single Trillium grandiflorum...)   

[johnw]

Like it or not you are doing the work of the east coast/maritime tourist board! Keep up the good work. I might have to visit that part of the country sooner than later.

Robert - Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island need all the tourism help they can get.  Tourists have been virtually non-existent for the past three years.  Up until four years ago I had to book all my hotel business stays from mid June through mid October in April in order to get rooms.  Not anymore, I can book the same day. Back in July I stayed at a large hotel in Yarmouth, NS and there were but 3 rooms booked, they had even closed their restaurant for the weekend.  "From away" license plates are few and far between, especially American ones. Fuels prices and the high Canadian dollar have taken their toll.  I doubt New Brunswick is in much better shape.  Lots of deals so get down here!

johnw

[Lvandelft]

Kristl, you show us such a interesting area with your excellent pictures.
And so many interesting plants, like Aster acuminatus, (never heard before of this one) and what impressive pictures of the Soldago habitat.
The Solidago sempervirens I see the first time in their habitat. We tried to introduce in trade in Holland because it never shows any problems in gardens like mildew, which is a problem with most Solidago in the cutflower production. But the flowers had not the quality which they want for the trade.
It grew like mad here in our sandy soil and now I understand why.
Thanks for showing!