2023 Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inspirational Calendar. Landscapes courtesy Vivian Allan. Sample January Month of the seasonal inspirational calendar! Support Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon
Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inspirational 2023 Calendar Come out to our Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Booths!
In partnership and with gratitude to Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Marvel at the landscapes, plants, birds and animals of the two Saskatoon Afforestation Areas throughout the months. Appreciate our urban forest with this inspirational calendar featuring quotations from global conservationist Richard St. Barbe Baker. Come to Nature. Come to Life. Community Place Making in the forest. Get your Christmas presents for that hard to shop for someone today! Celebrate Saskatoon and our urban forest!
Saskatoon’s Secret Forests transforming to Hidden Gems.
Support the afforestation areas.
Make a donation to the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, and receive a calendar. Support wildlife, environmental protections, and environmental education. Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.! Let us know when you make a donation, and we will make arrangements to get your calendar to you or for you to pick one up.
Thank you to City of Saskatoon and Mosaic for their support
Sat Sept 17 at 2:00 iNaturalist Biodiversity Challenge and Sun Sept 18 at 6:00 Easy as 1-2-3 Find It, Snap It, Share It, on the free iNaturalist app
Sun Sept 18 Wildwoods of Saskatoon Film Remai Modern at 2:00 Register Now! Seating is limited.
Commemorate #NationalForestWeek with a theme in 2022 “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.”
2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada
😃🍁🍄🥀🌼🌞🌷🌾🎋🌳🌲🐾🐀🐿🐁🐇🐇🕷🐛🦋🐞🐜🐌🐛🕷🦗🐢🐍🦇🐦🦉🦅🦆🐥🐣🐦🦇🐌🦋🦋🦄
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Maple Leaf Day (or National Forest Day) takes place the third Wednesday of September, which in 2022 is September 21. National Forest Week are the days around Maple Leaf Day.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die.
We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Celebrate #nationalForestWeek Sept 18-24! Special events and incredible opportunities await you! Visit http://www.friendsareas.ca to get involved today. 😄👍👨👩👧👩👩👦👦🌳🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲👨👨👧👦👩👩👦👦🙂😃👍
#NationalForestWeek commences Sept 18, 2022. Join us for a week of festivities as we discover trees, culture and explore the biodiversity forests around us support. Save the date to explore nature around you. www.friendsareas.ca @friendsareas 😄👍👨👩👧👩👩👦👦🌳🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲👨👨👧👦👩👩👦👦🙂😃👍
Do you have a great forest trail, a unique and special tree friend, a beautiful spot to meditate amidst the rustling of leaves in the forest? Post a selfie with a story telling everyone about your tree or forest space with the hashtag #NationalForestWeek. 😄👍👨👩👧👩👩👦👦🌳🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲👨👨👧👦👩👩👦👦🙂😃👍
Wildwoods of Saskatoon launches #NationalForestWeek at the Remai Modern Film Sept 18 at 2:00 ushering in a cavalcade of virtual and in-person events Take part in the photo extravaganza. Plant a tree, sing with a chickadee, protect a tree and support biodiversity. www.friendsareas.ca @friendsareas 😄👍👨👩👧👩👩👦👦🌳🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲👨👨👧👦👩👩👦👦🙂😃👍
Find your forest and share the story about your tree friend
In the days leading up to #NationalForestWeek
Let people know about a forest you like to visit
Share the location of a unique tree
Tell a story about your favourite native tree
Create a post on social media letting everyone know what event you have to offer about your favourite tree or forest
Get together with other environmental groups to promote your forest or tree places by a networking event
There is no mood or passion that the forest cannot give us, and those of us who have discovered her secret can settle beforehand what our experiences are going to be. We can choose our day and select our hour. And lo! the dawn finds us in the obscure wood. Together witnessing the film expose the afforestation secrets, we pass through into the realm of legend. With pity or with joy, the secrets revealed, behold the stories and tales of another world, another time. Let us at least suppose so for the moment—that at the film -we settle down to discovering the real intention and the stories of the afforestation areas. Those stories which etch and mould the form of the afforestation areas.
Discover the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Sunday September 18 at 2:00 pm at the Remai Modern. Register Now
50th anniversary of World Environment Day, 50th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Some will choose to embark on walks making every day some new acquaintance with Nature. Come walk in nature with a sense of greater space and freedom. This suggests besides, that the universe is not rough-hewn, but perfect in its details. Nature will bear the closest inspection; she invites us to lay our eye level with the smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. Come walk in the woods, become reminded of that a wise purveyor has been there before. Perhaps the most delicate experience is typified there. Become awe struck with the pleasing friendships and unanimities of nature, as when the lichen on the trees takes the form of their leaves. In the most stupendous scenes see the delicate and fragile features, as slight wreaths of vapor, dewlines, feathery sprays, which suggest a high refinement, a noble blood and breeding, as it were. It is not hard to account for elves and fairies; they represent this light grace, this ethereal gentility. Bring a spray from the wood, or a crystal from the brook, and place it on the mantel, and all store boughten household ornaments will seem plebeian beside its nobler fashion and bearing. It will wave superior there, as if used to a more refined and polished circle. It has a salute and a response to all nature’s enthusiasm and heroism.
The afforestation areas with secret spaces and secret places in this film “the secret is to be wrung from them.” come to the Wildwoods of Saskatoon heritage documentary on Sunday Sept 18 at 2:00pm Register now
Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arboreaNative species, Trembling Aspen or Populus tremuloides, quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, Quakies, mountain or golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar,, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CACaragana arborescens, the Siberian peashrub, Siberian pea-tree, or caraganaRichard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Out of control pollution.
Out of control pollution. Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Saskatoon, pincherry, chokecherry to name a few are pollinated bushes in the afforestation areas which rely on our bees and pollinator species. According to John Mola et al in The Importance of Forests in Bumble Bee Biology and Conservation writes, “forests and woody edges provide food resources during phenologically distinct periods, are often preferred nesting and overwintering habitats, and can offer favorable abiotic conditions in a changing climate.” Wildlife Preservation goes on to say, “forests provide lots of nooks and crannies for bumble bee queens to start their new colonies. Not only that, but the trees and shrubs in forests help slow down harsh winds, protect bees from the rain, and keep temperatures down during the heat of the summer by providing shade from the sun.” From the American Forest Foundation; “Mature stands [of forests] are also well suited for bees. Especially stands that include a variety of species, as well as openings or gaps. Mature forests can provide shade and protection from extreme weather for hives.”
What can you do?
Destroy your bug-zapper! Bug zappers kill all bugs and don’t pick and choose the bugs you don’t like. So all beneficial pollinator species bugs are also eliminated, and all the bird food on wings goes away, so the food web for the declining bird population is also gone.
Write a letter to your local, provincial and federal politician asking for a ban on pesticides and herbicides.
Buy organic food only in the supermarket or farmer’s market – or grow your own food.
There are light-free zones for star gazers to enjoy our milky way galaxy which is splendid! Why are there not Electro-magnetic Field EMF-free zones also? Environmental Health Trust EHT Executive Director Theodora Scarato writes, and says on YouTube; 5G and Small Cell Environmental Effects: Birds, Bees Trees and Climate. Take action now! Dana Dovey from Newsweek, says; “Technology is quite literally destroying nature, with a new report further confirming that electromagnetic radiation from power lines and cell towers can disorientate birds and insects and destroy plant health.” BeeHeroic says “Bees Plea, Stop 5G “Due to several factors – including body size, the magnetite that all animals have in their bodies and more – pollinating insects and animals are highly susceptible to 5G. In addition, the fact that mmWaves make plants toxic – to animals and humans – creates a combination that is forcing accelerated extinction of nearly all life on Earth.”
Plant trees and forests.
Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die.
We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Today, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a time to recognize diversity, cultural richness and heritage.
Did you know that the United Nations declared 2022-2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages?
So, as you take time to explore the natural wonders of the afforestation areas, discover more about our native flora and fauna as well as delving into our varied culture of the afforestation areas.
American Robin, Turdus migratorius, Le Merle d’Amérique Le français (French), pihpihciw nêhiyawak (Cree), roozh gorzh Michif
Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, La Couleuvre rayée Le français (French), kinepikos nêhiyawak (Cree), koolayv baarii Michif
Forest,la forêt Le français (French), sakâw nêhiyawak (Cree), li graan bwaa Michif
How would you say feather, insect, chickadee, turkey vulture or butterfly in another language from Treaty 6 territory? Email you answer to friendsafforestation@gmail.com
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), species at riskRanked S2 by SCDC
Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eye for an instant?”
Henry David Thoreau
What nature and biodiversity is around you today? As science teaches about various plants, and animals, wildlife and nature, awareness increases that Elephants exist in Africa, Kangaroos in Australia, Koala Bears in China. What insects thrive in Saskatoon? What songbirds remain in Saskatoon? Are there any animals that can be seen in Saskatoon? How many did you come up with?
“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.”
Kofi Annan
Join the #CityNatureChallenge from April 29–May 2! Document Saskatoon’s nature in the free @iNaturalist app by taking photos of wild plants and animals—and help contribute to the world’s largest citizen science event. More at FriendsAreas.ca
Celebrate National Volunteer Week which has a theme ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’
LichenCity Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challengeGoldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis Conservation Status: imperiled (S2S4) in Saskatchewan, CA (NatureServe)Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), species at risk
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Gandhi
During this National Volunteer Week, April 24 – 30 celebrate the theme; ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’
Have empathy for the very last time you may see a species at risk if action is not taken. Have empathy for the declining songbird population. Have empathy for the many organisms in the insect and fungi taxons which have not even been named yet, and which may go extinct before people pay attention to them.
Your contributions as an observer during the City Nature Challenge taking place April 29 to May 2 does take action to support global conservation efforts! Just download the free iNaturalist app and sign in, then;
Find it!
Snap it!
Share it!
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
Winston Churchill
What can you give to protect Mother Earth? The City Nature Challenge is your way to take action, so that you can answer I took action!
Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with a smart phoneMushrooms, Grasshopper, Caterpillar, FungiCity Nature Challenge City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
What a great time of year to go out and about as spring is in the air, and the birds are migrating into the willows, and the meadow grass is sweet.
Did you know that….
“iNaturalist is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. iNaturalist may be accessed via its website or from its mobile applications. As of February 2021, iNaturalist users had contributed approximately 66 million observations of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms worldwide, and around 130,000 users were active in the previous 30 days.
iNaturalist describes itself as “an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature”, with its primary goal being to connect people to nature. Although it is not a science project itself, iNaturalist is a platform for science and conservation efforts, providing valuable open data to research projects, land managers, other organizations, and the public. It is the primary application for crowd-sourced biodiversity data in places such as Mexico, southern Africa, and Australia,and the project has been called “a standard-bearer for natural history mobile applications.””[source]
It will be a pleasure to meet you, and the willows would love to meet you. There are no river willows in George Genereux park, they are full sized tree willows.
Caragana Flower Blooom Saskatoon, SK CAThermopsis rhombifolia flowers – Buffalo Bean Nadiatalent CCx4Saskatoon, SK, CA Spring timeThe magic of George Genereux Park, City of Saskatoon at RM of Corman Park 344 boundaryPollinator on dandelion
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
These are the three e-Bird hotspots in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. There are also opportunities to sight birds at George Genereux Urban Regional Park.
Black Capped Chickadee. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. SAskatoon, Sk, CAPoecile atricapillus Black Capped ChickadeeDowny Wwoodpecker Ddryobates pubescens Hairy Woodpecker female (Picoides villosus)Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 
