Author Archives: Nelson Spies

BBY010 :: Sorghum halepense (?)

This is grass; I know that much! It is possibly johnsongrass, which I learned this week is an invasive introduced species that is not officially listed as present here in BC. However, if johnsongrass has popped across the US border, I wouldn’t be surprised. The plants I observed grow mainly in the marshy areas toContinue reading “BBY010 :: Sorghum halepense (?)”

BBY009 :: Lythrum salicaria

Purple loosestrife. This distinctive flower popped up in a few places along the Burnaby Lake trail. It was easy to identify; although similar to the native fireweed, purple loosestrife’s petals are more pointy. L. salicaria was introduced to North America and has taken over from East to West. More interesting information can be read here.Continue reading “BBY009 :: Lythrum salicaria”

BBY008 :: Fagus grandifolia or sylvatica

American or European beech. I need to see the flowers and the fruit to know for sure which species this is. Being a relatively small tree, it might be too young to show fruit. It may not be a beech since there are no native beeches on the West coast. Another species whose leaves theseContinue reading “BBY008 :: Fagus grandifolia or sylvatica”

BBY007 :: Lonicera involucrata

I have recently identified this species since drawing it. This is twinberry honeysuckle. Unfortunately only one berry is visible here! Specimen recorded July 24, 2020, 18:14 across the trail from the willow tree (006). Art by Nelson Spies, November 25, 2020. Pencil crayon on medium texture coloured pencil paper.

BBY006 :: Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra

Pacific willow, shining willow, whiplash willow. My first attempt at guessing the species of this tree was black willow. Native to eastern North America, I thought it was unlikely to be that exact species, although I know a lot a migration of introduced species has happened. Looking at “Native Trees of Canada,” a 1956 handbookContinue reading “BBY006 :: Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra”

BBY005 :: Athyrium filix-femina

Lady fern. Ferns are so beautiful and complex, but the simplicity of my art reflects my knowledge of these plants. I had no idea where to start in identifying this one. I still don’t understand exactly what “pinnatifid” means but it’s a start! The leaf structure is bipinnate-pinnatifid if anyone was wondering. Another clue wasContinue reading “BBY005 :: Athyrium filix-femina”

BBY004 :: Alnus rubra

Called red alder, Oregon alder, or western alder, A. rubra is part of the Betulaceae family (the birches). The tree grows female cones and male catkins on the same branch. The bark is often marked by small to large white patches of lichen that thrive on certain trees. Specimen recorded July 24, 2020, 18:04 atContinue reading “BBY004 :: Alnus rubra”

BBY003 :: Betula papyrifera var. commutata

Paper birch, western white birch. As we will see in next week’s post and still more to come, the first day’s expedition to track the species at Burnaby Lake was a bit naïve and ambitious. I correctly distinguished that entries 003 and 004 were different trees while out in the field; however, after reviewing myContinue reading “BBY003 :: Betula papyrifera var. commutata”

BBY002 :: Spiræa douglasii

Rose spirea, hardhack, Douglas spirea, steeplebush. Another member of the rose family (see 001 last week), this native bush produces beautiful fuzzy flowers all around the lake for much of the summer. I’ve seen red-winged blackbirds sitting in the dried upper branches eating the seeds. While native, bountiful, and beautiful in North America, this speciesContinue reading “BBY002 :: Spiræa douglasii”