Author: Friends of Uplands Park

Focus on Crow Garlic in Uplands Park & Cattle Point – Invading the Meadows

Update from Margaret Lidkea :

CROW GARLIC

Crow garlic is invading the meadows of Uplands Park.  The garlic bulbs, not tasty, are crowding out bulbs and roots of native plants.  The bulbs produce bulblets and the flowers make seeds and bulblets.  Nothing eats it.
This is an extremely invasive plant.  It probably arrived in Victoria from Europe or Asia accidentally with other seeds.

No strategies for removal have been developed.  An experimental removal of the plant in Uplands Park by pulling it up in June to get the main bulb has resulted in fewer and smaller plants.

Last year many plants were pulled on Cattle Point and in the central meadow.  In 2019 plants were again removed.  Volunteers have been essential do this time consuming removal.

University of Victoria international students from the City University of Hong Kong have helped in both areas.  Many thanks to them and volunteers, Felicity Bradley, Betty Thacker, Ryan Blacoe, Ron Carter, Jacquie Bird, Famiko Yamaguchi, Nick Blumberg and Conway Carruthers for 18 hours of work.  Margaret has also removed it from Cattle Point for over 15 hours.

Cattle Point maritime meadows and rocky areas are virtually free of crow garlic plants.  Shrubby areas are still full of it.   Alas not all bulbs are able to be pulled because of the clay soil and the compaction of the soil by so many visitors over the years.  Visitors should consider rock hopping.

Remember:  NOTHING IS TO BE REMOVED FROM OAK BAY PARKS WITHOUT PERMISSION.

You can join the Friends of Uplands Park on days that are arranged, or contact Margaret to arrange your own date with permission.   People that are pulling crow garlic and leaving it in piles are really distributing seeds and bulblets and more invasive plants

Remember you can help by joining Friends of Uplands Park.

 

Royal BC Museum Fieldtrippers: In-seine Sailfins, Shrimps and Sea Slugs!

Sat. June 8, 2019 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Willows Beach with Friends of Uplands Park

Join researchers from the Royal BC Museum,as they conduct a beach seine at Willows Beach. As many as 20 species of fish, crabs, shrimp, and other invertebrates will be brought in using a large net, so everyone will get an up-close look at what lives beneath the waves.

Meet at Willows Beach. From Estevan, turn left onto Esplanade and drive toward the north end of the beach. Park on the right near the large white Royal BC Museum van.  Friends of Uplands Parkwill have small nets and containers to help you collect creatures.

Dress appropriately with water shoes or rubber boots.

Donations to the Royal BC Museum are greatly appreciated.

https://www/royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/../fieldtrippers-seine-sailfins-shrimps-and-sea-slugs

Thank you to Participants: Garry Oak Meadow…a Celebration of Volunteers – April 28-2019

Margaret Lidkea, FOUP Chair, sends the following thank you:

Garry Oak Meadow…a Celebration of Volunteers on April 28 was a beautiful sunny day with about 300 people stopping by to enjoy all the displays, the 3 wildflower walks, the children’s activities, the food, drinks and the wonderful music of the Bald Eagles Band.  Mayor Kevin Murdoch, and Parks liaison, Councilor Hazel Braithwaite, welcomed people at the official opening.  Other councilors attending were Andrew Appleton, Esther Patterson, and Tara Ney.

A BIG THANK YOU to the Bald Eagles Band, all the volunteers who helped, and to the organizations that displayed:

Bowker Creek Initiative CRD
Compost Education Centre
Saanich Parks Pulling Together
Friends of Ecological Reserves
Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society
Greater Victoria Green Team
NatureKIds and their ivy removal
Parks Canada
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Victoria Natural History Society
World Fisheries Trust.

Did you see the secretive burrowing sea cucumber?

It was lovely to see the inspired artists, Victor Lotto, Patricia Lortie and Avis Rasmussen painting in the park.  Thanks for being inspired and inspiring.

Thanks also to all the businesses that provided food and coffee:
Thrifty’s Food
Fairways Foods
Cobb’s Bakery
Hide + Seek Coffee
Starbucks.

Thanks to those who donated prizes:
Bowker Creek Intitiative CRD
The Bungalow
Cobb’s Bakery
Friends of Uplands Park
Gardenworks, Oak Bay
Greater Victoria Green Team
Penny Farthing Pub
Willows Galley Fish & Chips
John Olafson and Linda Beare
GOMPS.

Thanks to Oak Bay Parks for all their work providing tents, tables, chairs, electricity and their total support. Friends of Uplands Park is so fortunate to volunteer with Oak Bay Parks and to have the continuing support of our Oak Bay Council and the Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culuture Commission.

PDF of Thank You: Apr 28 Thank you to all for posting

[Photos forthcoming.]

iNaturalist guide of 500 flora and fauna found in Uplands Park

Selecting from various sources, Bob McDougall has put together a very helpful and comprehensive iNaturalist Guide of 500 flora and fauna that can be found in Uplands Park. Thanks to Bob for offering to share this resource. See: https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/9530.

Bob notes “iNaturalist gives various cc-by options to its members. As well, some of the sources for the images are from flickr and the Encyclopedia of Life. People can view these photos as non members. ”

Here are some screen shots from this iNaturalist Guide of some of the flora and fauna you will be able to explore in the wonderful resource. The expandable Table of Contents on the left panel is very helpful in navigating this guide.

 

“Garry Oak Meadow – A Celebration of Volunteers.” Sunday April 28, 2019. Noon – 3:00PM. Uplands Park.

Celebrate Volunteering with the Friends of Uplands Park.
“Garry Oak Meadow – A Celebration of Volunteers.”
Sunday April 28, 2019.
Noon – 3:00PM.
Beach Drive entrance to Cattle Point, Uplands Park.

Inviting all volunteers of Greater Victoria Parks and those interested, to come, listen and dance to the rock music of the Bald Eagles. Enjoy food & drinks, activities, wildflower and family activities though the Uplands Park Garry Oak meadows and win prizes. Hosted by Friends of Uplands Park with displays and activities by GOMPS, Compost Education Centre, Saanich Parks Pulling Together, Swan Lake, Nature Kids, Friends of Ecological Reserves, World Fisheries Trust, Community Association of Oak Bay, Victoria Natural History Society, Oak Bay Parks and Recreation and others.

Friends of Uplands Park Society Garry Oak Meadow Marathon – Sundays 1-3pm – February through March

The Friends of Uplands Park Society is participating, with groups across southern Vancouver Island, in a Garry Oak Meadow Marathon, and is hosting volunteer events Sundays [1-3pm] in February & March, starting Feb3-2019. Tools, instruction, and refreshments provided. Meet at Cattle Point in Uplands Park. More info on the attached photo and more about the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Marathon initiative at natureconservancy.ca/meadowmarathon

UVic Students Help in Uplands Park – Fall 2018

The University of Victoria Connection [Text submitted by Margaret Lidkea]

This Fall, a group of University of Victoria students from Lara Lauzon’s EPHE 142 Community Legacy Project, volunteered to remove invasive plants from Uplands Park. They worked in teams, created a display and then presented to their class.

FOUP would like to thank Lara for including us and her students for their participation in our Invasive Removal in Uplands Park.  The students were exceptionally keen to help and worked very hard.

THANKS TO ALL!

Here is Lara’s thank you:

“A short note of thanks from me with regard to welcoming and educating my EPHE 142 students who come each year – in the fall and spring terms – to help out at Uplands Park.

They learn so much.  They ‘change’ in a matter of a couple of hours under your leadership and tutelage. They begin to understand that being fit and eating fruits and vegetables are only a small part of living a healthy and well life.

The volunteer aspect for many of them is such a big challenge.  Then to actually work together as a group on behalf of an organization sometimes seems absolutely overwhelming to many of them as well.  Finally – when they get out in the community and participate in events such as the ones you welcome them to – they move from resenting the project, to complaining about the project – to actually being thankful they ‘had to complete’ the project.

Over and over again I hear such wonderful stories about all of you helping them to participate in invasive species removal.

Margaret – you are their ‘hero’.  “

Text for this website post was submitted by Margaret Lidkea.
Photos taken by Margaret, who was very thankful to be invited to the presentations.

Help Plant Native Plant Species in Uplands Park – Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 1-3pm

Help FOUPS [Friends of Uplands Park Society] restore the GORSE AREA by planting some native species.  Tools and instruction provided along with an opportunity to learn about the flora of this endangered ecosystem…the most diverse in all of Canada.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 2
1 TO 3pm
Meet at the GARRY OAK KIOSK off Beach Drive

PDF of Poster: 2018 Dec 2 PLANTING in gorse area