Blueberry Lake, Temagami: Old Growth Trail 1

Continued from previous 2 posts:

After a leisurely breakfast of porridge and English Breakfast Tea, we set off across the lake to the Old Growth Trail.

There are several distinct habitats on the trail. We had preprinted the Guide to the Blueberry Lake Ecology Trails from the ancientforest.org site, and started the hike up the hillside.

The first thing I noticed were the many clumps of Indian Pipe (Monotrope uniflora). This unusual plant gets its nourishment from fungal connections between its roots and the nearby trees. It is a ghostly white colour.

Indian Pipe

The trail was also chock full of Clintonia borealis, also known as Blue Bead Lily. The following photo shows the glossy dark blue beads which are the seeds that originate from pretty yellow flowers in the spring.

Blue Bead Lily

I soon spotted mats of Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula), and well as delicious Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Wintergreen leaves are yummy to chew on as you hike the trail!

Wintergreen

There was an amazing diversity of trees: Red Pine, White Pine, White Spruce, Black Spruce, White Cedar, Aspen, White Birch, Yellow Birch, Red Oak, Sugar Maple and Mountain Maple.

Sugar Maples - how green can green be?

Huge old White Pine

Red Pine canopy

The next post will continue with the Old Growth Trail.