We’ve reached that time of year when my weekly posts switch from plants and fungi to wildlife tracks and sign. Here’s a nice reminder that not all tracks are made by feet! The dry summer weather made for great tracking conditions along PEI’s unpaved roads. This site near Mount Stewart had all sorts of footprints from insects, birds, and mammals, along with the unmistakable undulating trail of a snake. The size of the snake track told me which of our three species was the culp

Earlier this year, my youngest (and largest) dog was cornered on the deck by something that was clearly very scary. I rushed to rescue him and immediately saw the fearsome creature: this lovely Northern Parula Warbler ( Setophaga americana ). ( No birds were harmed in the taking of this photo ). The Northern Parula is one of about 20 species of migratory warblers that breed on PEI. I’m no birder, but the Parula Warbler’s distinctive call is one of the few I recognize: a fast

If I had to design vegetation for a movie set on an alien planet, I’d take inspiration from this PEI plant: the odd-looking Rough Cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium ).    Cocklebur gets its name from spine-covered fruit (burs) that look a bit like Burdocks but have two distinctive beaks at the end (inset photo). Like Burdock ( Arctium minus ), Cocklebur’s Velcro-like fruits are distributed by hitch-hiking on animals, including humans. Those burs also float, allowing them to be r

Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI! I was thrilled to get this photo...

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

On PEI, wild food is everywhere. While walking to a meeting in downtown Charlottetown recently, I spotted some delicious, edible...

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...

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...

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...

Finding snakes is one of my favourite springtime activities. Cooler weather means they spend more time sunning themselves in the open,...

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...

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...

PEI’s Magnolia trees ( Magnolia  spp.) are putting on an amazing show right now (Photo 1). You’re likely familiar with the beautiful...

Magnolia flowers ( Magnolia spp.) aren’t just beautiful, they’re delicious! With a flavour that’s a combination of ginger, cloves, and...

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,...

On PEI, spring foraging offers up lots of leafy greens and tasty roots, but there are crunchy succulents on the menu, too. Today’s...

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...

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...

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...

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...