The Nature Nanaimo panel discussion about saving Harewood Plains was a success with approximately 80 attendees in person or via zoom. Interest and awareness of Harewood Plains has increased significantly. For example, a blog written in 2019 (https://cinnabarreflections.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/harewood-plains-nanaimos-flowering-jewel/) has had a spike in visits since the meeting and NALT has had many inquiries. City Council has been approached and several councillors are interested in helping bring this issue to council. An action that would be beneficial is for individuals to write to Mayor and Council (mayor.council@nanaimo.ca) to express concern and urge council to explore every avenue to make sure that we do not lose Harewood Plains.
Following the panel discussion Nature Nanaimo hosted an outing on May 20 led by Staffan Lindgren and Julie Deveraux at Lotus Pinnatus Park. About 14 members participated, plus we met city councillor Ben Geselbracht and had a nice conversation about the area. Julie shared her vast knowledge of plants with the group. Some special finds were Boschniakia hookeri, a species of parasitic plant in the family Orobanchaceae known by the common names Vancouver groundcone and small groundcone, and Orobanche uniflora, commonly known as one-flowered broomrape, one-flowered cancer root, ghost pipe or naked broomrape. It is an annual parasitic herbaceous plant.
A week later (May 27) Paul Chapman (NALT) led a second outing with 15-20 participants.
Spring Gold, Lomatium utriculatum
