On Thursday afternoon, we went to the Richmond Nature Park to explore some of the plants native to the area and discuss how they were traditionally used by the Musqueam First Nation who canoed over to Richmond during the summer harvest season to harvest berries and other plants as well as fish and hunt. Although cultivated blueberry bushes are taking over parts of the park, we did find some bog blueberry plants and bog cranberry plants. We also saw some almost ripe salmonberries which was exciting. We discussed how this area of the world was formed and is really quite young in the grand scheme of things. We discussed what a bog is and what makes it unique. As we walked the outer trails, I had given each student a photograph of a plant to be on the look out for. They also each had a little file folder notebook with a page to record a quick sketch of each plant and how it was traditionally used by Aboriginal peoples.
We had discussed some of the plants before the trip so the students really wanted to find the Labrador Tea and the Bog Laurel (poisonous) so they could see the differences for themselves.
Labrador Tea - the leaves were rubbed on the skin to act as in insect repellant; the leaves were dried as made into a tea to help sore throats and colds
Bog Laurel - poisonous
Some students brought their own cameras and binoculars along with them. We had a lovely afternoon walking the trails, talking about plants, trees and the bog ecosystem. The students had fun jumping up and down on the Quaking Trail..."just like a trampoline" thought one little guy.
The students learned about the Western Hemlock (needles for vitamin C), the Western White Paper Birch (leaves for tea, inner bark for food) and the Shore Pine (pitch used as a glue and for waterproofing, wood for building, needles for baskets) and how they were used in so many ways.
Bog/Wild Blueberries
The students were excited to find sphagnum moss. We had talked about this before the trip and the students thought it was hilarious that this plant could be used as a diaper (because it is so absorbent)!
Sphagnum moss -used as a sponge, antiseptic (highly acidic) and for diapers
It was a lovely, but too short afternoon. We could have spent the whole day there easily. So much to see, discover and discuss!
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