My Parents' Blossoming Yard #LearningSharingNames

Log Fern

Herb of Grace

Crassulaceae/Stonecrop Family

(Rutaceae Family)

Aizoon Stonecrop

Asteraceae Family

Salads

Cucumber

Herbs

Rosids Clade

Asterids Clade

Solanaceae Family

Oleaceae Family

Species of Nightshades

Black-Eyed Susan

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For more information on mosquitos consult:

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mosquito

• National Gepgraphic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/mosquitoes/

• The Canadian Governement, Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/mosquitoes.html

Here is a close up...

I think she's a mosquito

Can you spot the foe? Don't be shy... zoom in ;)

Mints

Apocynaceae Family

Tomato

One of my seedlings!

Garden Petunias

Basil

Eggplant

Arabian Jasmine

x4

Common Lilac

My parents' mix salads

Orpine

x4

~x5

~x10

My seedlings!

(x5)

Common Periwinkle

Variety: Maid of Orleans

Standard Moskovich (x12)

~x20

My seedlings

Not quite sure what this plant is...

My parents' tomato plants

A tomato fruit!

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Three of five eggplant seedlings

~x20

For more information on wasps consult:

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wasp
• National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/wasps/
• Canadian Wildlife Foundation:https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/insects/paper-wasp.html

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My seedlings!

Italian Parsley

(x5)

A wasp in the wintercreeper!!

(x5)

My seedlings

Potato

~x10

x2

x1

Are you friend or foe?

(x7)

(x8)

My mom has two different varieties

Not quite sure what type of insect they are...

(x7)

My parents' seedlings

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Wax Begonia

Purple Coneflower

Onions

Red potato plants

Large White Petunia

Black Mustard

(Begoniaceae Family)

My green onion seedlings

Beans

Rosaceae Family

Meadow Evening Primrose

For more information on House Sparrows consult:

• The Canadian Wildlife Federation: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/house-sparrow

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/house-sparrow

For more information on the song consult:

• All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Sparrow/sounds

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I believe we have spotted a House Sparrow in the Lilac!

Hello friend!

(Onagraceae Family)

Variety: Grand Duke of Tuscany

Here are some resources to consult if you are interested in learning more about our bee pollinators:

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bee
• UofMn BeeLab: https://www.beelab.umn.edu/bees/bee-diversity

Identifying bees:

• https://www.threeforagers.ca/blog/2019/bee-species-in-canada
• https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/bee-identification-guide
• https://www.osbeehives.com/blogs/beekeeping-blog/types-of-honey-bee-and-their-traits

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Bombus hypnorum, is that you?

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Garlic

My yellow Cipollini seedlings

~x50-x60

For more information on squirrels consult:

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/squirrel
• National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/squirrels/

For squirrel sounds consult:

• Youtube.com
• The Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/28/is-that-squirrel-trying-to-tell-me-something-deciphering-the-chatter/#:~:text=DEAR%20JANE%3A%20Squirrels%20say%20a,warn%20other%20squirrels%20of%20danger.

Sadly, my father does not remember exactly where he planted the garlic. They can look very similar to onions. Garlic and onions are both part of the onions Genus. The squirrels might have stolen them on one of their scavenging runs. We shall find out at the end of the growing season...

Bean seedlings line the edges of the garden that are fenced

Caprifoliaceae Family

My father remembers the seeds of this plant being used to prepare ointments that were used as we use vaporubs today.

Japanese Honeysuckle

Feverfew

~x50

~x15

Japanese Meadowsweet

x1

Trumpet Creeper

By late summer they will be much longer and hanging from the planters. They produce purple 5-petal flowers.

~x15

(Bignoniaceae Family)

Edging Lobelia

The Produce Garden

Hydrangeaceae Family

(Campanulaceae Family)

Smooth Hydrangea

x4

Bigleaf Hydrangea

It seems someone's in a hurry...

x3

x4

Dusty miller

~x5

Chinese Hibiscus

Old Fashioned Weigela

x2

~x12

Sweet Mock-Orange

Panicled Hydrangea

x2

For more information on American Robins consult:

• Canadian Wildlife Federation:https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/birds/american-robin.html

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/american-robin

For the bird song consult:

• All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds

x3

x1

Oh look! Someone has come to say Hi!

Hello Robin!

x1

Arugula

For more information on Ladybird beetles consult:

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/beetle
• National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/ladybugs/

The Eudicot Flowering Plants

We spotted our first creature of the day, good catch!

The Dicot Flowering Plants

Rainbow Chards and Beets

The Conifers

Spinach

Annual Bluegrass

Common Selfheal

Common Plantain

Carrots

Arborvitae

Norway Spruce

Bell Peppers

x1

White Clover

Common Blue Violet

I collected the bell pepper seeds one day in May when we were cooking from a store bought pepper. Hopefully once I transplant them they will grow quickly and provide us with some delicious fruits since I planted the seeds very late in the season.

What's That in the Grass?

The Monocot Flowering Plants

Asparagaceae Family

Northern Blue Flag Iris

x1

Daylilies

x10

Plantain Lilies

x2

x4

The Home and Patio Area

x15

Starry False Lily of the Valley

Steps to Reconnecting with Nature

Learning and Sharing Their Names:

STEP 3

STEP 5

STEP 1

Check your local weather forecasts to assure it is safe to go outside (i.e. if there are thunderstorm warnings do not put yourself in harm's way).

Dress appropriately, and don't forget your sunscreen!

It's finally time to go outside and explore!

Take note of where the plant is geographically located.

If you plan on mapping an area, bring a pen and paper. For example, after surveying and mapping my parents' yard I then used Prezi to create and present my findings.

I am unfamiliar with mapping applications but here are some articles on mapping applications that may help you if you prefer to map electronically instead of manually:

• CNET, 2009. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/create-some-really-cool-maps-with-these-apps/
• HONGKIAT, 2020. https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/map-tools/

Download a plant identification application on your device. I used PictureThis.

If you know a botanist or biologist ask them for help.

If you prefer to do this activity without the use of a device, I highly recommend using a botanical book. This method may take more time but is still very fun!

On my quick search through the internet I found the following books that may be of use:

• Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J. Elpel,
• Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists by Ross Bayton and Simon Maughan,
• Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon.

I encourage you to safely find botanical books at your local library or at your local little free library if there is one near you (https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/).

STEP 4

STEP 2

STEP 6

Choose how you would like to perform this activity, what your intentions are, and what your goals are.

For example, my primary goal was to learn as much as possible in order to appreciate the plants in my parents' yard by using a plant identification application on my own. Through my intentions I was able to reconnect with myself, the people I care about and my surroundings.

Find a plant that you are interested in knowing more about and identify it by using your chosen method of identification.

While identifying the plant, gently touch its leaves, its stem, its flower petals or bark. Make sure to be gentle as to not harm the plant and that your hands are clean. What does it feel like? Is it smooth, spiky, rough, hairy, sticky, waxy?

What shapes are the leaves? Are they round, elongated, jagged?

What colours are the plant's features? Are the stems a different colour then the leaves? What about the flowers or fruits it might bear? What colour are they?

Is there a scent? What do you smell? Does the scent remind you of anything?

Are there any critters on the plant? Any other beings around? On the leaves? On the flowers? At the base of the plant or on the branches?

How and what do you feel during this process? Are you excited? In awe? Unimpressed? Intrigued to learn more? Take note of all these feelings.

Share your results and challenge others to find and learn about a plant so that they may share it with you and many others.

Use #LearningSharingNames when you post your findings on social media so that anyone consulting the hashtag can see everyone's beautiful and fun experiences.

So ask yourself the following:

• Who do I want to do this activity with? Do I want to do it alone or with a friend? Is this an activity I want to do with my children/ nephews and/or nieces/ siblings?
• How will I perform this activity? Device or Book or with an expert by my side?
• How long do I want this activity to last? How long do I want to or expect to be outside and explore?
• Where would I like to go exploring? (Please stay safe and choose locations wisely.)
• What do I want to achieve? Do I want to learn all about one or many plants?
• Do I want my experience to be solely concentrated on learning about plants or do I want this activity to be more laid back and unstructured?
• How do I want to share the things I learn? Will I post about my findings directly on social media or create my own map?

If you live in the NDG Area of Montreal, Canada and plan on surveying trees I highly recommend you check out the NDG Tree Project from the Ziter Urban Landscape Ecology Lab at Concordia University: http://www.carlyziter.com/ndg-tree-project

If you are performing this activity in a group you may choose to do it all together

OR

Opt to explore on your own and then come back together after a determined amount of time to report on and exchange on what you have found, learned experienced.

With your goals, expectations and intentions formed and decided you can now move on to the next step.

Have fun!

x1

Thank you for coming on this journey with me!

I hope you liked the tour of the garden and learned something that will stay with you and that you may share with others.

I also want to take this opportunity to encourage you to pause, to engage and to learn more about that flower plant, that tree or that shrub that might have caught your eye on your walks or outings to your local parks.

If you are interested in creating your own map or instructions on where to start your own journey of learning and reconnecting with nature, I invite you to scroll through the next few slides to learn on how I achieved and completed this project.

This experience for me has not only been highly educational but a great mental health and spiritual tool. Learning and finding out about all the plants and beings around me that I had never paid much attention to beforehand has greatly made me appreciate nature a lot more. Again, thank you and I hope I have inspired something in you or left you with tools with which you can use to spread positivity.

Be Kind and Take Care,

Labrini V.

Hello! And welcome to The Virtual Tour of my Parents' Blossoming Backyard!

My name is Labrini and I shall be your guide.

I had a lot of fun learning about all the species of plants my parents have in their yard and I hope you will too. Throughout this journey I found myself more relaxed and more connected, not only to my parents, but to all the beings around me I never paid much attention to beforehand.

This tour is structured in a way that I hope will be engaging, fun and educational. I couldn't create an exact replica of the yard given that many of the same plants are situated in many different corners of the garden beds.

As such, the tour will start at The Produce Garden and My Seedlings areas. Thereafter, I will direct you towards The Conifers where a friend awaits to greet you. We will then make our way to the flowering plants which I have sectioned by Class and sub-sectioned by Clade and Family. Lastly, we will make our way to an area that some might think devoid of diversity: Grass!

Well, that's enough talking. Press the "Next" button and Let's Get Exploring!

Disclaimer:

I, nor Concordia University, are affiliated with the app "PictureThis". This app is a tool I used to help me identify and learn about all the interesting plants in the yard. Many more apps for plant identification are available on app stores.

All pictures have been taken by me and mother.

Liliaceae Family

Siberian Lily

Lily

x4

x8