Bunchberry holds floral deployment speed record
Some flowers open quickly, and some are even spring-loaded, but the floral deployment speed record belongs to the lowly dogwood relative, the bunchberry, which when triggered opens its tiny four-petal bloom in less than a millisecond.
While some flowers recruit the help of pollinating insects by producing sweet nectars or are otherwise biologically engineered to entice potential pollinators, the bunchberry has a fairly peculiar and extreme method of dispersing its pollen to passersby.
When triggered by an insect or other pollinator, the bud of a bunchberry will explode into its flowered state so fast that it is not visible to the naked eye. As it flings opens, the hinged anther inside the flower projects pollen away from the flower and onto whatever is in range.
Even when viewed through a video camera at 10,000 frames a second, the motion is barely discernible. In the blink of an eye, the bunchberry is in bloom. Watch video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFR17bX0noI&t=8s
Hotel Macdonald an iconic figure on Edmonton skyline
Perched on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River Valley, the Hotel Macdonald opened on July 5, 1915. Setting the bar for hotelier excellence in Alberta, the hotel has long been known for its elegance and draw as a luxury destination.
The idea to create this spectacular holiday destination was that of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, which hoped to corner the market on tourist travel to Edmonton at the start of the 20th century. The company spared no expense in constructing its masterpiece, which took four years and $2.25 million to complete, worth $52 million today.
Named after Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, it attracted guests from across the world. After the 1939 visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the grandest suite in the hotel was named in her honor.
Unfortunately, the Hotel Macdonald was forced to close in 1983 due to disrepair. But in 1985, the City of Edmonton declared the hotel a Municipal Heritage Resource, saving it from being wrecked. It was the first building in the city to receive this distinction. It was purchased by Canadian Pacific Hotels in 1988 and re-opened in 1991.
The restoration included the addition of specialty suites in what had once been the attic. Due to the unique construction of the building, these suites have turret spaces and magnificent views of valley below and the city of Edmonton. Learn more at https://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/fairmont-hotel-macdonald/history.php
Horned Grebe a species at risk
The Horned Grebe is a small duck-like water bird that lives in small freshwater ponds and marshes containing a mixture of emergent vegetation and open water and have been observed in urban ponds in Edmonton and St Albert. It is imperative we protect their habitat, to prevent them from disappearing entirely.
In breeding plumage, it has a golden yellow patch of feathers behind its eyes that can be raised or lowered at will, giving it the appearance of horns. Chicks are fed adult’s feathers, a behaviour unique to grebes. This forms a plug of feathers in the stomach and may function as a filter or may hold fish bones in the stomach until they can be digested.
Horned grebes are excellent swimmers and divers. During dives they may stay underwater for up to three minutes and travel 150-200 meters. They sleep by resting their neck on their back and tucking one foot under a wing and then use the other foot to manoeuvre in the water.
Grebes are awkward on land and spend most of their time swimming or floating on the water. Their legs are set so far back on their bodies that they are hardly able to walk. Read more at https://www.ealt.ca/species-spotlight-list/horned-grebe
Private golf courses open for free winter public use
Russ writes “I agree with what Councillor Michael Janz wrote last week. The city needs to reopen the lease and allow more guaranteed access for outdoor activity. Additionally, they need to also allow more access to the golf tee sheet in order to increase usage on this prime public land by taxpayers. It is very limited.”
Comment or contribution
If you have a comment, concern, or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com Please also email us river valley photos or event information. Your friends, neighbours and colleagues can sign up for this newsletter on our web site https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712