by Leslie Cox; Saturday; April 22, 2017
Earth Hour, Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month.
It is heartening to see the growth in environmental awareness through the events scheduled globally in April honouring these momentous titles. What started with twenty million people on the first Earth Day, March 21, 1970, as a teach-in at numerous American schools and universities to raise awareness of environmental concerns has now expanded to 192 countries and well over a billion people. (The date was moved to April 22 in 1971 to avoid conflicts with spring breaks and end of term exams.)
Even more spectacular is the fact this growing global movement transcends race, religion, and social status. Participants from diverse backgrounds are united and focused on saving our planet. No other event in the world accomplishes this phenomenon.
And so we should stand together. Through sheer numbers, we are capable of making our governments realize how important our environment and planet are to our continued existence. This is what generates change.
We need change. I shudder to think what my home province of British Columbia, in Canada, would look like without its forests. They are one of the ecosystems which sets us apart. Fortunately, some of our forested areas are protected under federal or provincial acts. Even so, changes are in the works to undermine the sanctity of our heritage. So sad.
When I need a change of scenery…or a place to walk our dog, Sadie…I love to visit any one of the forested parks or green spaces in my region of Vancouver Island, the Comox Valley. Especially in spring. Anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about spring…the constant wonderment of re-birth. The ground is finally waking up from its winter slumber. Every day there is new joy to witness and celebrate.
Such pleasure is seeing Trillium ovatum coming into bloom. Many may be more familiar with its common names: Pacific trillium, western white trillium, or western wake robin. I like the last one, so designated supposedly because the plant comes into flower just as the robins are “waking up”. So often such events lend themselves to the naming of plants. (The flowers open white and then fade to pink with age.)
As pretty as the trilliums are, it has great value as a food plant and medicinal herb. Steamed and served with a sauce or added to soups and stews, the young leaves were a welcome sight back when the countryside was the only store in the area.
Tinctures made from the whole plant have been used to treat nose bleeds and bleeding haemorrhoids. Soaking the root bulb in water makes a good eyewash solution. But be forewarned: native elders forecast rain should any children pick a bouquet of trilliums.
Another early spring beauty in our forests is Erythronium revolutum, the pink fawn lily. Carpets of them are now appearing in many parts of the Comox Valley right now.
I have a special fondness for the Erythronium species. When I was a child, my parents would plan a picnic day in April every year, almost without fail, for my brother, sister and me. Our destination was a little church just outside of Victoria where the surrounding grounds were richly carpeted with thousands upon thousands of delicate white fawn lilies, Erythronium oregonum. Such a wondrous sight…the memory of which is still awe-inspiring for me years later.
These too, were used as food plants by the native peoples. The bulb was collected to be eaten fresh or dried for storage.
I have but touched on two species which are on display right now in our lightly-shaded forested areas. But there are many other plant species putting on their growth spurt and adding their might to the greening of our wilder landscape.
Saving the Earth…whether it be by the Hour, the Day, by the Week or by the Month…is an important undertaking. I want my grandchildren to share my erythronium memories with a memory of their very own special carpet of fawn lily flowers.
A walk through Miracle Beach Park with its hundreds of pink fawn lilies is a must-see for everyone. The inspiration for our planet is breath-taking.
