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Wine-caps
On PEI, wild food is everywhere. While walking to a meeting in downtown Charlottetown recently, I spotted some delicious, edible...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 15, 20252 min read


Ground Ivy
Today’s PEI plant is one that many of you will be familiar with. This time of year, the scent of its flowers and sound of bees buzzing...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 11, 20252 min read


Veiled Polypore
This spring, I’ve been introducing you to some of PEI’s early-season fungi. Today’s example hits the trifecta: it’s common, easy to...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 8, 20252 min read


Wild Chervil
On PEI, it’s common to mistake any tall, white, roadside flower for Queen Anne’s Lace (aka Wild Carrot). But there are at least eight...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 4, 20253 min read


White-lipped Snail
Let’s start the day with a quiz: which PEI animals can be found in saltwater, freshwater, and on land? If you guessed snails, give...
katemacquarrie22
May 28, 20253 min read


Snakes
Finding snakes is one of my favourite springtime activities. Cooler weather means they spend more time sunning themselves in the open,...
katemacquarrie22
May 25, 20253 min read


Bloodroot
There are several plants not yet known to grow wild on PEI that I suspect are here somewhere. Although those in the photo have been...
katemacquarrie22
May 21, 20253 min read


Amber Jelly Roll
This spring, I’m exploring some of PEI’s early-fruiting fungi, and today’s example sounds more like a pastry than a mushroom. Meet Amber...
katemacquarrie22
May 18, 20253 min read


Magnolias
PEI’s Magnolia trees ( Magnolia spp.) are putting on an amazing show right now (Photo 1). You’re likely familiar with the beautiful...
katemacquarrie22
May 14, 20253 min read


Magnolia Flower Recipes
Magnolia flowers ( Magnolia spp.) aren’t just beautiful, they’re delicious! With a flavour that’s a combination of ginger, cloves, and...
katemacquarrie22
May 14, 20252 min read


Scarlet Elf Cups
The word ‘mushroom’ often conjures up an image of a white or brown cap-and-stem fungus, but mushrooms come in a variety of shapes, sizes,...
katemacquarrie22
May 11, 20253 min read


Sedum
On PEI, spring foraging offers up lots of leafy greens and tasty roots, but there are crunchy succulents on the menu, too. Today’s...
katemacquarrie22
May 7, 20253 min read


Ticks
Here on PEI, we’re in that brief but magical part of spring when the days are long, it’s pleasantly warm, and the onslaught of blackflies...
katemacquarrie22
May 4, 20253 min read


Trout Lily
Some of PEI’s rarest and most interesting plants are a bit like your favourite seasonal foods: you can only find them for a short time...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 30, 20254 min read


Seasonal Wild Foods - April
If you’re counting the days until you can enjoy vegetables fresh from your garden, I have good news: many of PEI’s wild greens and root...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 27, 20254 min read


Spruce Bark Beetle
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI! Today’s topic comes from my own...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 23, 20253 min read


Morel vs. "False Morel"
When I think ‘spring mushrooms’, Morels and False Morels are the first that come to mind. We have both here on PEI and – despite the...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 20, 20253 min read


The Story of PEI Part 12: 20th Century Land Use Change
Over the winter, we’ve explored the story of PEI starting with formation of its bedrock 300 million years ago, through the last ice age,...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 16, 20253 min read


Coltsfoot
Some of the Island’s earliest spring wildflowers appear on their plants before the leaves. From the subtle blooms of Red Maple and Beaked...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 13, 20253 min read


The Story of PEI Part 11: Introduced Game Birds
Last week, we looked at how and why mammals such as Raccoon and Skunk were introduced to PEI in the early 1900s. These were among our...
katemacquarrie22
Apr 9, 20254 min read
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