Thanks for sharing these links! Somehow I never saw a notification, but luckily I had this piece in my inbox! Ruth Allen (Breccia) visited one of the Celtic rainforest remnants back in 2022 and wrote a post about it. And I’ve started reading Guy Shrubsole’s book The Lost Rainforests of Britain about the forests and the efforts to restore them. It’s great so far — you might enjoy it, especially as that ecosystem has piqued your interest. I myself look forward to visiting them someday.
I have been in remnant rain forest on the west coast of Scotland a number of times (I originated over there) and last summer enjoyed a period in the amazing rain forests of Haida Gwaii. They are truly remarkable places.
I haven’t been to either, but hope to make journeys to both. Lucky you! I hope to visit the British Isles in 2025, and may just ask you for guidance toward the Scottish remnant. Have you written about your visits there?
I have but the posts no longer exist - on a website I abandoned. Happy to answer questions and help ... look up Ardtornish on the west coast. I hope this link gets you a photo.
Hi Tom - there are several. I would suggest you try iNaturalist which also does birds, insects, spiders and plants - just upload a photo from your phone or computer. Like all these things it is better at some species than others but there is a community of experts out there who will (sooner or later) put you right if you are wildly adrift. They all work from photos though - I don't think there is anything quite as simple as Merlin for plants. There is also "Seek" which is from the iNaturalist people and perhaps a little easier to use depending on your existing knowledge.
Thanks Richard! I was worried this would be your answer ... but I'm going to figure that my earlier dissatisfaction with iNaturalist was more about me than it was about the app. I think I just need to apply myself more diligently.
About naming - Learning names and applying them in your fielding has all the attention-developing and widening upsides the opening quotation extols. It can also seduce one into thinking the name (a marker on a language map) is the creature (the living or less lively thing in itself, and in all its changing relations through time and space, and in what it has to tell you from itself and in yourself). The complementary lore of forest bathing is to resist the urge to name and move on, and to be still and slow and observe and let yourself feel where you are, what you sense, and how you respond. Naming and not naming. Maybe it’s a tidal thing.
I will have to visit the Arboretum next time I am in Montreal. Sounds like a really interesting place for sure. Spring is giving us a nice preview here in Ottawa as well. The male Red-winged Blackbirds have begun showing up which is a great sign.
I'd join that tour if I were able (and invited of course.) Down here in Oregon, our beloved redwing blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, are conspicuously absent- beautiful birds with lovely calls, but also known carriers of Histoplasma capsulatum, yet another pathogen slowly moving northward and well established in the eastern part of North America.
Thanks for sharing these links! Somehow I never saw a notification, but luckily I had this piece in my inbox! Ruth Allen (Breccia) visited one of the Celtic rainforest remnants back in 2022 and wrote a post about it. And I’ve started reading Guy Shrubsole’s book The Lost Rainforests of Britain about the forests and the efforts to restore them. It’s great so far — you might enjoy it, especially as that ecosystem has piqued your interest. I myself look forward to visiting them someday.
I have been in remnant rain forest on the west coast of Scotland a number of times (I originated over there) and last summer enjoyed a period in the amazing rain forests of Haida Gwaii. They are truly remarkable places.
I haven’t been to either, but hope to make journeys to both. Lucky you! I hope to visit the British Isles in 2025, and may just ask you for guidance toward the Scottish remnant. Have you written about your visits there?
I have but the posts no longer exist - on a website I abandoned. Happy to answer questions and help ... look up Ardtornish on the west coast. I hope this link gets you a photo.
https://www.amazon.ca/photos/share/XcrsBIzNhbmCKVBVGBQybBx1c5nBODyoW3MyVqkq4gf
Lovely read. And thanks for the mention, Richard!
Is there an equivalent of Merlin for the identification of plants? I found Merlin to be such a boon to my interest in birding …
Hi Tom - there are several. I would suggest you try iNaturalist which also does birds, insects, spiders and plants - just upload a photo from your phone or computer. Like all these things it is better at some species than others but there is a community of experts out there who will (sooner or later) put you right if you are wildly adrift. They all work from photos though - I don't think there is anything quite as simple as Merlin for plants. There is also "Seek" which is from the iNaturalist people and perhaps a little easier to use depending on your existing knowledge.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-plant-identification-app/
https://www.inaturalist.org
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
Thanks Richard! I was worried this would be your answer ... but I'm going to figure that my earlier dissatisfaction with iNaturalist was more about me than it was about the app. I think I just need to apply myself more diligently.
Plenty of books from simply to really complex. Just get a field guide for your area.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/features/books/index.shtml
I think it's just that birds are looked at a lot more than plants ... maybe these links will help:
https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/simple/
https://nature-mentor.com/how-to-start-learning-about-plants/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-a-plant
... and some good pointers here, albeit it is from britain
https://nature-mentor.com/how-to-start-learning-about-plants/
About naming - Learning names and applying them in your fielding has all the attention-developing and widening upsides the opening quotation extols. It can also seduce one into thinking the name (a marker on a language map) is the creature (the living or less lively thing in itself, and in all its changing relations through time and space, and in what it has to tell you from itself and in yourself). The complementary lore of forest bathing is to resist the urge to name and move on, and to be still and slow and observe and let yourself feel where you are, what you sense, and how you respond. Naming and not naming. Maybe it’s a tidal thing.
I will have to visit the Arboretum next time I am in Montreal. Sounds like a really interesting place for sure. Spring is giving us a nice preview here in Ottawa as well. The male Red-winged Blackbirds have begun showing up which is a great sign.
If I am free, I'll be happy to show you around
I'd join that tour if I were able (and invited of course.) Down here in Oregon, our beloved redwing blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, are conspicuously absent- beautiful birds with lovely calls, but also known carriers of Histoplasma capsulatum, yet another pathogen slowly moving northward and well established in the eastern part of North America.