Betty Learmouth
A woodland walk organized by the Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club and the Canada South Land Trust was held on May 14, 2006, in The Town of Kingsville, Essex County, to celebrate Ontario Nature’s 75th anniversary. During 2005, field naturalist and nature clubs around the province were asked to be a part of Ontario Nature’s anniversary celebrations.
Landowner Bill Balkwill kindly agreed to be tour leader for a walk through the 45.6 acre Balkwill woodland. Twenty ECFNC and Land Trust members and friends arrived in the early afternoon for a two hou guided walk.
Natural heritage on the 150 acre Balkwill farm is comprised of a 45.6 acre Carolinian woodland, a 0.95 acre Old Logging Road lined with mature Sugar Maples and a 2.1 acre Prairie and Pond restoration site. The woodland has a series of twelve lanes which allow easy walking and viewing of plants and trees. The natural heritage on the Balkwill farm will be protected in per- petuity by a Conservation Agreement between brothers Jack Balkwill and Bill Balkwill and the Canada South Land Trust.
Our walk took us along the southern edge of the woodland, then along lane 1 toward the northern part of the woodland, east along lane 9 and south along lane 8. This route provided an opportunity to view both dry and wet portions of the woodland as well as a chance to observe the movement of running water over the wood- land floor where the old creek bed of Cedar Creek may still be seen in the northwest corner of the woodland.
Along the Old Logging Road edge we enjoyed Crabapple in bloom as well as various species of haw- thorn which Bill identified for us. Bladdernut blooms along the Old Logging Road edge were spectacular. Mayapple, White Trillium, and Wild Phlox were in bloom along the woodland edge. A Black-billed Cuck- oo perched for several minutes at the woodland edge providing good views of this elegant bird species.
In the dry south- ern portion of lane 1 Bill identified Alum Root which grows in this par- ticular woodland section. We navigated a wet area on the trail, noting the sedges. Wild Geranium bloomed in profusion around us, providing a pink haze throughout the woodland. Lane 9 gave us a chance to see water flowing across the wood- land floor. Bill identified Mayapple Blossom Shumard Oaks which may be found in these wet condi- tions, mentioning the buttress roots which develop as this oak species has a shallow root system.
A number of vascular plants were identified in this rich woodland including Canada Moonseed, Christmas and Sensitive Fern, Carrionflower, and Herb Robert. The Balkwill brothers have been diligent with regard to the invasive plant Garlic Mustard which has not been allowed to establish in the woodland. Along lane 9 a mature Burr Oak was admired with several of the younger members giving this giant a big hug.
The afternoon concluded with a tour of the Balkwill arboretum with its mix of native and exotic trees growing within the property’s residential or building area.
Thank you to Bill Balkwill for sharing his knowledge concerning the plants and trees of the Balkwill woodland.