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Water Arum
Have you ever run into an acquaintance you haven’t seen in a long, long time? The person looks unfamiliar at first, then something dawns,...
katemacquarrie22
Aug 13, 20252 min read


Banana Bolete
PEI’s dry summer has made for poor mushroom hunting so far. My go-to spots have yielded just a handful of edible Chanterelles and Meadow...
katemacquarrie22
Aug 10, 20252 min read


Heal-all
Have you noticed any purple-flowered plants in your lawn or nearby areas? On PEI, most of these – Creeping Charlie, Hemp Nettle, or...
katemacquarrie22
Aug 3, 20252 min read


Chicory
PEI’s midsummer roadsides are lined with colourful wildflowers. White, yellow, gold, pink, purple, and brown are common, but blue stands...
katemacquarrie22
Jul 30, 20252 min read


Goatsbeard
PEI has several yellow wildflowers that are sometimes mistaken for Dandelions. In early spring it’s Coltsfoot; in summer, it’s the...
katemacquarrie22
Jul 9, 20252 min read


Partridgeberry
There are a few PEI plants that I’m always especially happy to find. One of those is the lovely Partridgeberry ( Mitchella repens ). ...
katemacquarrie22
Jul 6, 20252 min read


Smooth Bedstraw
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI! Over the past week, I’ve gotten...
katemacquarrie22
Jul 2, 20252 min read


Dame's Rocket
Lupins aren’t the only colourful wildflower decorating the Island’s roadside ditches in June. Dame’s Rocket ( Hesperis matronalis ) is...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 22, 20252 min read


Chokeberry
PEI has so many beautiful wild plants. One of my favourites is Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ), a shrub that has it all: lush...
katemacquarrie22
Jun 18, 20252 min read


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


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


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


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


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
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