Yellow Flag (Iris) - in the Holland Marsh
While it can be an attractive perennial often sold in nurseries, the yellow iris is an invasive species that poses a great threat to fragile wetland ecosystems. The flowers have three drooping, deep-yellow sepals with purple-brown markings that look like large petals, surrounding three smaller upright petals. It is the only iris in North America with entirely yellow flowers that bloom between April to July.
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Final Calculation
At the posted coordinates, you will find a green three digit number. Take this number, add 43, divide by 1000, and add to both North and West of the following fake coordinates:
N 44 00.426 W 079 36.000
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Welcome to the Holland Marsh!
About the Holland Marsh
The Holland Marsh is a wetland and agricultural area in Ontario, Canada, about 50 kilometres north of Toronto. It lies entirely within the valley of the Holland River, stretching from the northern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine near Schomberg to the river mouth at Cook's Bay.
Before its development, the entire area was a large wetland extending almost continuously along the western arm of the Holland River. It was part of the Toronto Carrying-Place Trail, although another route to the east was also used, avoiding the dense marshy area. The first economic boom in the Holland Marsh came in the 1880s with the harvesting of marsh hay (reeds), used to stuff mattresses. First harvested by hand with scythes, then by horse-drawn mowers with the horses wearing large boards on their hooves so as not to sink into the soggy ground. Later still the industry mechanized using tractors made from cars and trucks to harvest and bale the hay.
In the early 1900s, successful vegetation experiments by Professor William H. Day demonstrated that there was fertile muck soil on what was previously unoccupied Holland Marsh swampgrounds. The Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme, consisting of canals and dykes constructed around the Marsh, drained the swamp which exposed the fertile Marsh grounds that farmers have been using ever since. Professor William Day led the project to reclaim the large southernmost Holland Marsh polder, which was completed in 1930. The canal system was created by engineer Alexander Baird of Sarnia, Ontario.
About the Caches
The caches range from ones accessible from your vessel, to ones which require you to exit your boat. A pull down tool may come in handy, as would a monkey. Unless otherwise specified, the containers are black-taped Lisa Tubes. At the time of placing, the bridge work at Highway 9 has closed the canal passage under the bridge. You may be required to split these caches into two sections.
One More Thing:
Enjoy your paddle!