Known by many names: policeman’s helmet, bobby tops, copper tops, gnome’s hatstand, Himalayan or Indian balsam, poor man’s orchid. Impatiens glandulifera is a very voracious invasive plant, taking over areas in fields and wetlands. There are programs around Burnaby Lake Park and in Metro Vancouver which enlist volunteers to help eliminate some of these plants.Continue reading “BBY020 :: Impatiens glandulifera”
Tag Archives: invasive
BBY019 :: Rubus laciniatus
Cutleaf or evergreen blackberry. I started this drawing in June and finished it in September. During that time the berries had ripened and fallen or been eaten. I chose to cover this variety of blackberry before the more prominent Himalayan blackberry (R. armeniacus) just because it’s more interesting and unique, and fun to draw theContinue reading “BBY019 :: Rubus laciniatus”
BBY018 :: Ilex aquifolium
English holly. I was inspired by a recent botanical illustration tutorial from the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver (ISCMV) to draw something quickly and simply. I still don’t have watercolours, but I tried to use watercolour pencils for the pigment here. Holly is an introduced species from Europe. The spiky leaves may be mistakenContinue reading “BBY018 :: Ilex aquifolium”
BBY016 :: Nymphaea alba
White waterlily. Moving into the water now, here is a common plant that frogs love to sit on. White or European waterlilies are invasive in North America, being found originally in Africa, Europe and Asia. The large lilypads can be seen from space, framing in the very rectangular dredged shape of Burnaby Lake in satelliteContinue reading “BBY016 :: Nymphaea alba”
BBY015 :: Humulus lupulus
Hops. This entry was bound to be a big botany learning experience for me. As with most of the entries I’m currently working on, this one was hastily observed and forgotten until later. Looking at the pictures, I thought it must be a grape vine. I could see tiny flowers which I assumed would turnContinue reading “BBY015 :: Humulus lupulus”
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”
Park Canvass 