Brookside Trail
By Dominic Lloyd
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
On September 21 2004, we met at the John Janzen Nature Centre for our first fall ramble of 2004. From the Nature Centre we walked to Fox Drive and crossed it at the traffic light. Then we turned right and walked past Fox Farm and up the hill to Brookside.
Fox Farm
Trail to Brookside
Years ago, the trail was a road, and people who lived in Brookside would drive down into the valley and then up Keillor Road to get to the city centre. As we walked along the trail we could smell high bush cranberry, which smells something like dirty socks. We also saw a flower which is a member of the pink family, similar to bladder campion, as well as some creeping bellflower.
A Mystery Pink
Creeping Bellflower
At the top of the hill we turned left and walked along the street almost to the intersection of 141 Street and 59 Avenue. Then we turned left onto an inconspicuous trail that led through the woods to a viewpoint.
Pipeline Bridge and
Rainbow Valley Bridge
Asters
Mushrooms
Flodman's Thistle
Back at the John Janzen Nature Centre we examined the Edmonton Naturalization Group's wildflower demonstration garden. This garden features numerous native wildflowers including Flodman's thistle, stiff goldenrod, and graceful cinquefoil.
Stiff Goldenrod
Graceful Cinquefoil