When the new amphibian pond was being studied, there was great concern for a very rare flower which existed in one of the possible sites which eventually proved to be the best site. During construction a year ago, some of these flowers, white turtle head flowers, were dug up and saved. It was hoped that the seed bank in the top soil, which was also saved and replaced after construction, would also have some of the white turtle head in it.
Turtle head bloom in August and September and so one of the things we did was wait and hope that this August and September we would see some turtle heads growing near the pond so that they would seed and multiply. Good news! Jan and I searched for the turtle head on Aug. 31 and discovered not a few of these beautiful flowers blooming near the pond but more than 100 of them blooming in full glory. I have attached a photo showing a close up of these unique flowers.
Nature is wonderful as I'm sure you all know and so I guess I should not be surprised when I see a jewel weed (touch me not) growing in the middle of the rock berm at the pond overflow. Where it got any soil there to grow such a fine example of this plant is amazing. I have attached a photo of the jewel weed in its full bloom and a close up of the flower as well.
If any of you have not yet walked in to see the new pond, may I suggest that you do so before the flowers are finished. If you have only a short time for the hike, enter at the Summerpark entrance and take the centre trail past posts 27, 26 and 25 then west past post 28 and 29 to the pond. This will take about 15 minutes and you will not get your feet wet between posts 26 and 25.
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