HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-04-09, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, April 9, 2014
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Discovering the wonder of spring flowers
I can remember exactly
where I was the first time I ever
saw a hyacinth.
When I was a kid, we spent
an inordinate amount of time
tromping through a small
woodlot that bordered on our
backyard. Not surprisingly, we
simply referred to it as "the
bush."
It was on one of our spring-
time adventures in the bush -
not long before Easter - that I
was out exploring on my own.
Springtime mean the hunt was
on for daffodils and bluebells,
and the last of the snowdrops.
These grew in abundance in
the bush, and it was not
uncommon to pick a few and
bring them home for mom to
display in a vase on the kitchen
table.
But this year, I saw something
entirely different. They were
Column
Gerard Creces
underneath a tree, almost hid-
den from sight for the trail
hiker, but at the perfect spot for
an adventurous little kid to
find. It was a cluster of purple
and pink flowers, climbing up
their stems on all sides to form
cones of vivid colour. It was
exciting and beautiful and new
- kind of like spring itself.
Naturally, I picked one and
brought it home for mom and
soon learned the name for my
new discovery. Hyacinths may
be one of my favourite flowers
now, as much for
their appearance as for the
excitement of finding some-
thing new and wonderful about
spring.
Daffodils are a dime a dozen,
growing in ditches, lawns and
woodlots in white, cream and
yellow. Waxy little bluebells are
much the same - they grow
anywhere and in anything.
But finding hyacinths to me
is a sure sign of spring, not due
to any scientific knowledge, but
due to a discovery I made many
years ago that left an indelible
impression on a young mind.
As sure as the cattails hide
among the reeds, there were
always little clusters of hya-
cinths to be found if you knew
where to look. And each year, I
looked all right. I spent a lot of
time in that bush, and once the
snow disappeared, the flowers
told a tale of the seasons
passing.
As the seasons progressed,
trilliums, buttercups, daisies,
violets and black-eyed Susans
opened their petals and shared
their colours with me as well.
Apple blossoms turned to little
apples. Nature's clock was and
is beautiful, and for the pint-
sized hunter, exciting to
discover.
Now that this dreaded winter
is finally over, it's time to look
for those signs of spring. Snow-
drops are already poking their
heads above ground. Robins
are already minding their socks
of yellow. Birdsong fills the
mornings with a distraction
from the noise of the highway
and everywhere optimism
blooms.
Here's to spring and new
beginnings and the under-
stated beauty of the hyacinth.
Be Bear -Wise this spring, says
Ministry of Natural Resources, OPP
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding
people to take simple precautions this spring to
prevent attracting black bears as they come out of
hibernation.
The potential for human -bear conflicts
increases when there is little natural food availa-
ble for bears. If this happens, black bears will
search for other food sources, such as garbage
and bird feed, which can draw bears to populated
areas.
The MNR provides these simple instructions to
minimize the chances of attracting bears:
• tore garbage in waste containers with tight -fit-
ting lids.
• Put out garbage only on the morning of pickup.
• Put away bird feeders. Seed, suet and nectar also
attract bears.
• Pick fruits and berries as they ripen - don't let
them rot on the ground.
• Clean outdoor barbecue grills after each use,
including the grease trap underneath. Bears will
be drawn by smells from great distances, includ-
ing grease and food residue on grills.
Bears that enter a populated area aren't neces-
sarily a threat to public safety. Public safety is at
risk when a bear poses an immediate threat to
your safety.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and OPP
have agreed on the roles and responsibilities for
both organizations to help the public understand
which organization to contact when they encoun-
ter a bear.
If a bear is posing an immediate threat to pub-
lic safety by exhibiting threatening or aggressive
behaviour, call 911 or your local police. At the
request of police, during daylight hours the Min-
istry of Natural Resources will respond to emer-
gency situations to assist. For non -emergencies,
the Ministry of Natural Resources operates the
toll-free, 24/7 Bear Reporting Line (1-866-514-
2327) and the Bear Wise website to provide the
public with information and advice.
BREATHE
THROUGH
A STRAW
FOR 60
SECONDS.
When your lungs
are killing you,
that's cystic fibrosis.
To learn more
and support
cystic fibrosis
research, visit
cysticfibrosis.ca
7�Cystic Fibrosis
7r ).M Canada
Breathing hfe into the future'
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