​Kincardine Horticultural Society learns the secrets and lore of wildflowers

The Kincardine Horticultural Society welcomed Shannon Wood (above) as guest speaker at the April 13 meeting, and learned about the secrets and lore of wildflowers.

Wood has worked for various conservation authorities and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource offices throughout her career. She is now with the Cargill and Greenock Swamp Promotional Association, offering historical tours of the Greenock Swamp.

A biologist, she is now retired and enjoys speaking to various groups and organizations, sharing her knowledge about nature.

Her talk focused on the secrets and lore of wildflowers, and she emphasized the need to look closer at the flowers in our gardens.

"There is always a reason why they are the colour they are, why they are large or small, and whether they carry various fragrances," said Wood. "They are the best advertisers in the world. Their primary purpose is to attract the prime pollinators."

Bees are the best pollinators due to their hairy bodies. Wood explained that bees are responsible for pollinating over one-third of the food we eat. Did you know, for example, that it takes roughly 1,000 visits from bees to pollinate a watermelon fully. Did you also know that the white seeds in a watermelon are white because they were not pollinated?

Wood also explained how flowering plants can play various tricks on their pollinators. Jack in the Pulpit, for example, can also be Jill in the Pulpit.

The dead insects on milkweed are those that could not carry the heavy pollinator sacks properly to their intended target; they were eliminated and remained stuck on the flower.

So many mysteries and adventures await in your so-called 'ordinary' garden!