On Oct. 17, the Wellington County Historical Society is launching a new history The Flora of Wellington County at the Wellington County Museum.
The publication has been underway since 2001, the work of Dr. Richard Frank, of Rockwood, and botanist Allan Anderson of New Hamburg.
The authors take as their beginning the geological landforms, weathering, soil formation, original forest and local climate from 1800 forward.
They report on plant use by First Nations, findings of the first surveyors, and the development (then destruction) of the Wellington forest. The book includes colour maps and comprehensive lists of native and alien species.
The 150-page publication concludes with an examination of environmentally sensitive areas, and an overview and summary of the current state and possible futures for the flora of Wellington County.
Both authors will speak briefly and sign books, which are available for sale. The book launch is open to the public and free, and begins at 2pm in the Nicholas Keith Room at the Wellington County Museum and Archives
For further information, call Ian Easterbrook at 519-843-6576.
Dr. Richard Frank attended the Universities of Leeds, Cambridge, and Trinidad in the West Indies; he holds a doctorate from the University of Guelph and is retired from the OMAF pesticide laboratory.
Allan Anderson S.D.A. (Scottish Diploma in Agriculture) graduated from the West of Scotland Agricultural College with a diploma in Agriculture, with the class prize in Botany.
Since coming to Canada in 1966 he has studied the flora of Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Anderson worked at the University of Guelph for 35 years, studying nutrition, soil requirements and seed germination requirements for a number of plant species, especially orchids. He has also been involved with the North and South Wellington environmental sensitive areas studies as well as being involved in some consulting and environmental impact reports.
Both men are active with the Waterloo-Wellington Wildflower Society
The first section of their publication considers the flora of the county in pre-settler times, beginning with an examination of the geology, landforms and climatic conditions following the last glacier.
Weathering and soil formation, soil drainage, and soil type will all have played a role in the forest ecosystems and regimes.
The huge forest trees, dominated by American beech and sugar maple growing to old age on the fertile, well-drained upland soils would have been breath-taking and are well-described as “cathedral-like.” Tables chart the tree species; shrubs, bushes, and woody vines; ferns and fern allies; herbaceous annuals and perennials. The authors also examine the First Nations use of plants.
Part two of the book details the destruction of the forest, plotting changes in soil and local climate and the loss of wetlands; native flora were devastated and largely replaced by introduced crop plants and alien plants and weeds.
The natural environment declined and continued to decline into the 1950s. Tables chart total and wooded areas in the three watersheds, and further tables summarize alien and noxious species.
Part three looks at the surviving landscape, 1970-2005. The authors examine the regeneration of unsuitable, cleared land; reforested areas; and environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs). Lost species are discussed; tables address natives and rare plants. The section concludes with observations on the future management of Wellington’s forest remnants.
