LUMINESCENT FUNGI SEEN

Francis and I were walking home in the dark, after a fine celebration for Bruce and Carol Hodgins of Camp Wanapitei. When I was able to resist using the flashlight to light the path, we noticed irridescent spots on the forest floor, and on decomposing logs. There are so many mysteries still to discover and study in the old growth forests --and not so old forests. It makes me sad how the MNR's Forest Management plan 'manages' for so few 'indicator' species. When the old growth habitat is gone, we've lost a link to science and spirituality.

QUILTS & BARNS

Do you like quits and farm life? See over 100 on display on barns throughout Temiskaming. It's part of a self-drive tour to bring awareness to the 2009 International Plowing Match. Yes, that's 2009 September.
This photo is of me painting a 'tree' quilt that will go up on display in Temagami village.
Personally, I am thrilled to drive the lush farmland of Temiskaming only to see the most stunning quilts painted on barns. I am painting a series of watercolours to depict this. For those who wish to drive about (you can easily take less than a day), there is a map to go with it outlining the story of each quilt and the farm's history.  What a great way to tour the bread basket of Ontario.
P.S. Smoothwater offers lodgings and meals for International Plowing Match tourists.

ORCHIDS IN TEMAGAMI

Pink Lady's-slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) are everywhere these days in Temagami. Just yesterday, June 19, over 250 were counted while hiking the old growth pine in the White Bear forest. Let's put it in context: that's 250 Pink Lady's-slippers over 3 km of trail in the old growth pine forest.
Pink Lady's-slipper are also called the 'moccasin' flower. Aboriginal people used the roots in a sedative and in an epilepsy medicine.
Pink Lady's-slipper take 10 years from germination to reach the flowering stage. They should not be picked.

A TEMAGAMI CANOE TRIP IN SEPTEMBER

This is a really good video on You Tube about a Temagami canoe trip in September.  I'm not sure who authored this, but it is quite typical of the Temagami landscape. The canoe trippers had some amazing nature and wildlife experiences, including wolves and moose.   http://youtube.com/watch?v=vKtD3xXIcME

A CULINARY MEDITATION

Always I look for a meaningful way to acknowledge the culinary bounty we are blessed to have in Temagami, in Canada.  This one, by Kahil Gibran, humbly connects me to the web of life.

"When you kill a beast, say to him in your heart: By the same power that slays you, I too am slain, and I too shall be consumed.  For the law that delivers you into my hand shall deliver me into a mighter hand. Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of life."

BUG REPELLANTS

"It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood." discoverymagazine.com Lest we not forget, only the females suck.
I've heard a form of torture practiced by some Canadian First Nations tribes, was to strip the enemy, tie him (probably not a her) down outdoors during bug season, and then let the mosquitoes have a go. So how long would it take for 1,2000,000 mosquitoes to feast? Twenty four hours in June?
Don't worry though about bugs. I don't want to scare you. When you wear a bug shirt you can laugh.
But it is very interesting to think of how people over the millenia protected themselves against bites. Fur traders and the courieurs des bois used bear grease on their skin to smother a critter (imagine sleeping under a canoe during bug season). Tree planters use olive oil to the same effect. Today, some use a combo of essential botanical oils, while others swear by deet. I swear by bug shirts, especially those made by the Original Bug Shirt Company in South River.
At least we don't have poisonous snakes. See you this spring!