Speechless—that’s how I felt after spending a full day photographing flowers in Harewood Plains in Nanaimo. Not only is the flower display in the meadows absolutely stunning, it is also one of only five locations on Vancouver Island where you can find bog birds-foot trefoil (Lotus pinnatus).
Harewood Plains Wildflowers
Harewood Plains is an area of about 3 square kilometers of open, wet grassy meadows connected by a service road underneath hydro lines. At this time of year, the meadows are predominantly pink sea blush and yellow monkey-flowers. Common camas was still in bloom. Earlier in the spring the same meadows that were awash in pink and yellow were blue at the peak of the camas bloom. Last week I found some camas, but the majority had already gone to seed. There is plenty of edge habitat with open Douglas-fir forest and a few Garry oak.
Sensitive Landscape
The meadows are extremely sensitive habitat. The soil is thin over conglomerate rock and wet seeps run through the grass and flowers. In the past, off-road vehicles like ATVs and 4×4 trucks caused significant damage to the both the plants and the soil. It is easy to find scars in the landscape that indicate people have driven here before. Regrettably some of those tire tracks look relatively recent. Signage indicates that anyone causing damage to plants and/or habitat is liable for a fine of $50,000 per offense.
Bog Birds-foot Trefoil
The signature plant of the meadows is the bog birds-foot trefoil (Lotus pinnatus). Harewood Plains is one of five places on Vancouver Island, where this rare red-listed plant can be found. This is also the location which has the largest number of plants—approximately 80% of the total individuals in British Columbia, around 1500 plants. Including the bog birds-foot trefoil, at least 10 rare red and blue listed plants have been found in the meadows.
I felt very lucky to see this very rare plant in bloom. Harewood Plains is an incredibly interesting, sensitive, and beautiful place. It is definitely worth preserving.
Hi. I found your site as I was looking for info as to why I see so much cotton fluff/pollen…as we drove to Victoria there was a section where it felt it was snowing!
Your site is so beautiful…you are both very talented. Thanks for sharing your passion with the world! I’d like to mention your site and some of your information on my blog.Thanks, Jackie
Thanks Jackie – you might want to check out a post I did on cottonwood back in 2010: Cottonwood Snow in June. I’ve got a link to Jocie’s article on cottonwood as well on that post. There’s quite a bit of cottonwood seed blowing around in the Comox Valley right now as well!
Are you looking to use content or images for your blog? Let me know using the Island Nature contact form what you’re thinking about.
Dave
Hi Dave:
I just read your article yesterday and was on Harewood Plains this afternoon. I worked on the site for ten years, removing car wrecks and cutting broom. Today we were almost run down by an aggressive dirt biker. The meadows are being trashed by off-road vehicles and they are in worse shape than ever.
I tried and failed to create a conservation group. The people of Nanaimo are not sufficiently interested in conservation to do anything.
Part of the area has been designated as park, but they are under the hydro line and south of it are still being trashed.
Thanks for your article.
I’m sorry to hear about this Charles – I remember seeing signs of off-roading when we first visited the meadows. I’m hoping to visit the meadows again this weekend to take a look for myself.
Dave
It is worse than ever, Dave.
Haven’t gotten down to the meadows yet Charles, will take an evening drive down to Nanaimo tomorrow night.