Catherine S. Wishart Tract
- You will discover one of nature's most spectacular rock gardens at the 'Bruce Alvar Nature Reserve'
In 1993, the Federation purchased this property with funding through a generous bequest from Catherine S. Wishart. She requested that her gift be used to protect a property with rare and endangered plants. Bruce Alvar Nature Reserve certainly fits the bill. ........
Parking is just off Highway #6. Co-ordinates on bottom of page....
WHAT IS AN... "ALVAR"?
- This 67-hectare nature reserve has two main vegetation communities that gently grade into each other - rock barrens of dolostone bedrock dominated by a ground cover of moss and herbaceous plants such as 'Lakeside daisy' and 'Indian paintbrush', and semi-open coniferous forests dominated by jack pine. The rock barrens, or alvar pavements, have little or no brush cover and no tree cover. In some places, the dolostone bedrock is completely exposed and in other places a very thick layer of organic accumulations covers it. Plants that survive on these rock barrens are well adapted to extreme conditions - freezing cold in the winter; searing hot and dry for much of the summer and soaking wet in the spring and after summer rains.
The rock barren and jack pine communities support a notable array of rare plants and unusual assemblages of vascular and non-vascular plants. Nationally threatened and provincially rare species are 'Lakeside Daisy', 'Dwarf Lake Iris', 'Purple stemmed Cliffbrake', 'Hill's Thistle', 'Roundleaf Ragwort', and 'Northern Dropseed'. In addition, many regionally and locally rare plant species and unusual lichens and mosses occur. Research regarding alvar communities is ongoing and there is still much to discover about the mosses, lichens and algae.
The site is also habitat for the "Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake", a nationally and provincially threatened species.
NOTE:
Visitors are welcome to the 'Bruce Alvar Nature Reserve', but it is critical that all visitors stay on the marked trail. The rock barrens are extremely vulnerable to foot traffic.
The trail includes a "dry-land boardwalk and small platform" overlooking a portion of 'The Alvar Pavements'.
Some of the terrain is so sensitive it is protected with a boardwalk.
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Visit the web-page for BRUCE ALVAR NATURE RESERVE"Where you will discover one of nature's most spectacular rock gardens"
- Please post your observations of the plants in bloom or decline at the time of your visit as this will be an ongoing actual account of the 3 seasons the "Alvar" will be on display.
Disclaimer: This cache has no affiliation, related directly or indirectly with 'Explore the Bruce Tourism'
I have never placed any in their name.