The Wild

Archive

  • Reflecting on Horticulture

    As the summer progresses and fall looms I took a moment to revisit my educational path. I know with certainty that choosing to study horticulture was a good choice, and that it will provide me with opportunities that are of interest. There have been times of self doubt however, and these doubts resurfaced over the Read more

  • A new adventure begins

    I have had a rather “exciting” 2023 so far. I only say that with mild sarcasm, as the changes have been necessary and unavoidable. Most recently I accepted a new contract position that will take me away from home, and into a new sector – government. I am very excited about the opportunity, as it Read more

  • Jack Pine – Pinus banksiana

    Jack pine may be the most well known conifer on the prairies, if not in all of Canada. To many people the name Jack Pine is synonymous with all needle bearing conifers found across Canada. The reality however is that Jack Pine does refer to a specific species within the genus: Pinus. The question then Read more

  • Tree Classification

    This is going to be a somewhat technical post meant to clarify some of the terminology associated with classification. In order to write correctly it is essential to know and use the correct terminology. When referring to a tree, I often find myself unsure of the technical term. Should I call it a species, a Read more

  • Tree ID tools

    As I have been working my way through the different local trees in an attempt to improve my identification skills, the question of tree identification tools has occurred to me. I know that there are many field guilds, and that they are produced for everything from birds to mushrooms. Indeed, when working in remote wilderness Read more

  • Balsam Fir – Abies balsamea

    Working through the conifers, we come to the Fir. Only one species of indigenous fir (Balsam Fir) is listed for Saskatchewan: Order: Pinales – Family: Pinaceae – Genus: Abies – Species: A. balsamea Growth Patterns: In our climate the balsam fir can be expected to grow to between 45-75 feet. The spread will be between Read more