| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
A Golden Hike at Princess Point
August 27, 2024
I spy with my little eye, something that is gold
By Lindsay Barr, Senior Terrestrial Ecologist
Before we welcome autumn and buy that first pumpkin spice latte, it’s time to soak in those last rays of gold. No, not rays of sunshine, I mean the golden blooms of sunflowers and goldenrods. Late August and September is the perfect time to explore RBG’s Princess Point and bask in the diversity of these late summer wildflowers.
Goldenrods
Upon first arrival you’ll easily see that the dominant bloom colour is gold, Canada Goldenrod is the most abundant plant that grows at Princess Point. But take a closer look and you’ll see there’s more than just this one species around, in fact, eleven species of goldenrod have been observed at Princess Point.
Goldenrods are an incredibly important plant for native pollinators. Renowned author and biologist Doug Tallamy’s studies show that “goldenrods provide food and shelter for 115 butterfly and moth species in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic alone. More than 11 native bee species feed specifically on the plants, and in fall, monarch butterflies depend on them for nectar to fuel their long migrations. Even in winter, songbirds find nourishment from goldenrod seed heads long after the blossoms have faded.” But don’t take his word for it, go stand beside a flowering goldenrod yourself and you’ll see and hear what all the buzz is about. Princess Point’s grasslands provide essential habitat for monarchs, bees and other pollinators but you can too by bringing a little gold to your garden. I personally like Blue-stemmed Goldenrod and Zig-zag Goldenrod for the shadier parts of my yard and Stiff-leaved Goldenrod for where there’s more sun. Silverrod is another great choice, and it doesn’t get too tall.
- Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
- Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
- Stiff-leaved Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum)
- Early Goldenrod (Solidago juncea)
- Flat-topped Goldenrod aka Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
- Prairie Aster aka Upland White Goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides)
- Grey Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)
- Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
- Silverrod aka White Goldenrod (Solidago bicolor)
- Hairy Goldenrod (Solidago hispida)
- Zig-Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Sunflowers (and Sunflower Look-a-Likes)
Towering above the goldenrod (and literally everything else at Princess Point) you will find the suitably named Tall Sunflower. It’s by far the most extravagant and attention-seeking of the native sunflowers found here. Just the other day, when my team and I were conducting our vegetation monitoring surveys, we observed American Goldfinches foraging in the Tall Sunflowers. Talk about a 24-karat experience! Did you know that Goldfinches start nesting in August which is much later than most birds? A recent media post by famous birder David Sibley, says they do this to access natural resources like milkweed fibers to build their nests and thistle seeds to eat. There’s no doubt that they will also take advantage of delicious sunflower seeds when they’re ready. There are seven species of sunflower and sunflower look-a-likes to discover during your visit to Princess Point.
As far as native plant importance goes, Sunflowers have it all. They attract over 73 species of butterflies and moths whose larval life stages (the hungry caterpillars) feed on their leaves. These caterpillars also provide a food source for birds to feed their young. Bees, butterflies and flies also help pollinate the sunflowers which in turn produce seed to once again feed birds and other wildlife. The plants’ underground tubers are a nutritious feast for animals and us too, have you tried Sunchoke aka Jerusalem Artichoke before? Come winter, the hollow stems provide a warm place for cavity nesting bees to overwinter their larvae. Sunflowers that would be a great addition to your garden that come highly recommended are Woodland and Pale-leaved Sunflowers, they do better in part-sun. If you have the air space, Tall Sunflower is a definite showstopper but if its height makes you hesitate, try Smooth Oxeye (not a true sunflower) as an alternative.
- Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower aka Pale-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus strumosus)
- Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
- Tall Sunflower aka Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)
- Smooth Oxeye aka False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
- Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Grey-headed coneflower aka Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida pinata)
Bit of Botany: Composite Flowers
Did you know that sunflower and goldenrod blooms are not a single flower, but a bunch of small flowers clustered together to look like a larger one? This type of flower is called a composite flower. All members of the Asteracea family have composite flowers including daisies, dandelions, sunflowers, goldenrods and, of course, asters.
Composite flowers are made up of ray flowers and disk flowers. What looks like the flower’s petals in the image below are actually individual flowers known as RAY flowers or florets and the center of the flower is also made up of tiny individual flowers known as DISK flowers or florets. The diagrams below show that each floret has its own parts that make up an individual flower.
Visiting Tips
If you find yourself looking for something to do and need a breath of fresh air, I urge you to take a leisurely walk around Princess Point at the southeast corner of Cootes Paradise. Numerous accessible lookouts, including a newly built platform overlooking the inlet, provide magnificent views of Cootes Paradise Marsh. And if you truly want the gold standard, time your visit within the hour after sunrise or before sunset and bring a camera. This time of day is known as “Golden Hour”, and I can’t think of a better place in Hamilton to spend it than Princess Point.
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