Microscopic Observation – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

Greenery Day: Celebrating Nature and Discovery

Common Yarrow Achillea Millefolium Legend: A Lower and upper part of the plant. 1 cup. 2 ray bloom. 3 tubular flower, bud with chaff leaf. 4 tubular flower. 5 stamen. 6 fruit. 7 fruit, cross section. 8. Fruit, longitudinal section. 9 stylus tip. (1-9 enlarged).

Linnaean system of classification Biological Classification Chart — Common Yarrow Achillea Millefolium Legend: A Lower and upper part of the plant. 1 cup. 2 ray bloom. 3 tubular flower, bud with chaff leaf. 4 tubular flower. 5 stamen. 6 fruit. 7 fruit, cross section. 8. Fruit, longitudinal section. 9 stylus tip. (1-9 enlarged).

On May 4th, we honor Greenery Day, a celebration rooted in the appreciation of nature, inspired by the deep connection Emperor Showa (Emperor Hirohito) had with the natural world. As a young individual, Hirohito, often described as a reserved introvert, discovered solace in nature under the guidance of his school biology teacher, Hirotaro Hattori. Hattori’s mentorship ignited Hirohito’s passion for microscopic observation and shell collections.

Emperor Hirohito’s fascination with hydrozoans became a notable part of his scientific legacy. His contributions to the ‘World Hydrozoa Database’ reveal 36 records, marking his discoveries in 1967. During a diplomatic visit to the USA, Hirohito diverted to the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory and Oceanographic Institution, where he met hydrozoan expert Howard Sanders. This encounter further fueled his interest in marine biology.

In 1971, Hirohito was recognized as a Fellow of the British Royal Society. The imperial dedication to scientific inquiry extended to Akihito, Hirohito’s son and the subsequent Emperor, who focused on Gobiidae fish investigations. Both father and son, recognized taxonomists, tirelessly cataloged Earth’s biodiversity, unveiling the mysteries of unnamed species.

On this Greenery Day, we encourage following in the footsteps of these royal scientists. Participate in the City of Saskatoon City Nature Challenge, a global initiative unfolding from April 26 to April 29, 2024, capturing the essence of the natural world. Snap pictures of plants, insects, birds, and more, fostering a shared experience of discovery.

Here we are on May 4, Greenery Day, a time of identifications! There have indeed been citizen scientists on iNaturalist credited with making new species discoveries as did Emporer Hirohito

Species Identification YouTube

As the challenge extends to species identification from April 30 to May 5, 2024, immerse yourself in nature’s wonders. The City Nature Challenge will unveil the results on May 6, 2024, contributing to the inventory of species, tracking invasive ones, and discerning changes in species ranges.

Greenery Day is not just a celebration but an invitation to explore, observe, and cherish the richness of our natural world, echoing the spirit of discovery championed by Emperor Hirohito and his son.

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

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Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

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Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

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Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas

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Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

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United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

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““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

The Nature-Inspired Journey of Emperor Hirohito

Walking in the Footsteps of Hirohito: A Greenery Day Exploration

The story of Greenery Day which has a name change to “Showa Day” takes us back to the youthful days of Japanese Emperor Hirohito, a man whose passion for marine biology and nature shaped the celebration we honor on April 29. Showa Day is the revamped name for Greenery Day, honoring Emperor Showa’s fondness for plants, also known as Emperor Hirohito. It falls on May 4th. Born on this day, Hirohito’s early infatuation with life’s wonders led him on a unique journey, guided by his school biology teacher, Hirotaro Hattori.

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
Albert Einstein

As a shy introvert, Hirohito discovered solace in nature, finding inspiration in the microscopic world and the mysteries of marine life. The ocean became his sanctuary, and his teacher, a mentor who introduced him to the joys of microscopic observation. Together, they explored the realms of hydrozoans, cnidarians, corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, paving the way for a lifelong love affair with the natural world.

.. the word ecology, coined by the German biologist and philosopher Ernst Haeckel (initially as oecology) in 1866. derives from the Greek oikos, “referring originally to the family household and its daily operations and maintenance.” The term ecology is therefore intended to refer to the study of the conditions of existence that pertain to, and the interactions between, all the entities that make up our larger, cosmic household here upon earth.
Warwick Fox

SmartPhone nature Photo using the free iNaturalist app

In the private realm, Hirohito was an eager investigator, driven by the pursuit of discovery and understanding. His passion for biology not only provided comfort but also reflected his belief in natural science as a unifying force for humanity. Despite his public image as a placid leader, he embraced the role of an original investigator, seeking humility and inspiration in the humblest orders of life.

We are enabled to apprehend at all what is sublime and noble only by the perpetual instilling and drenching of the reality that surrounds us. We can never have enough of nature.
Henry David Thoreau

Goldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis Conservation Status: imperiled (S2S4) in Saskatchewan, CA (NatureServe)

Showa Day, therefore, stands as a tribute to Hirohito’s connection with nature, urging us to commune with the environment and appreciate its abundance. The day encourages us to follow in the footsteps of a man who found solace and inspiration in the natural world, even amidst the chaos of war.

What is wrong with our culture is that it offers us an inaccurate conception of the self. It depicts the personal self as existing in competition with and in opposition to nature. [We fail to realise that] if we destroy our environment, we are destroying what is in fact our larger self.
Freya Matthew

Today, citizens can embrace Hirohito’s fascination with the natural world through citizen science. The iNaturalist app allows us to share in his enthusiasm, turning our smartphones into tools for identifying and documenting the diverse species around us. As we celebrate Showa Day, let’s remember Hirohito’s legacy and engage in the Saskatoon CNC YXE 2024 City Nature Challenge April 26 to April 29, contributing to the discovery and inventory of species, tracking invasive ones, and understanding the changes in species range.

The basic pattern of life is a network. Whenever you see life, you see networks. The whole planet, what we can term ‘Gaia’ is a network of processes involving feedback tubes. Humans are part of the larger whole, Gaia.
Fritjof Capra

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) habitat is in cattail marshes such as Chappell Marsh in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. The female is not a brightly coloured as this male.

April 26 to April 29, 2024, marks a time to embark on a unique journey of discovery. By snapping pictures of wild plants, insects, birds, mushrooms, and other signs of life, we contribute to a shared experience of documenting biodiversity. Signs of life represent things that were once living or represent something that is living, like owl pellets, roadkill, scat, animal and bird tracks, snakeskins, bones, skeletons. feathers, seashells. Join the movement, connect with nature, and unveil the results on Monday, May 6, 2024. It’s more than a walkabout; it’s a celebration of life, science, and the interconnectedness of our world.

What is it? a YouTube Video

With thanks to our sponsors and supporters SaskPower, SaskTel, Saskatoon Nature Society, Wild About Saskatoon, Varsity View Community Association, Rosewood Varsity View Community Association, Nutana Varsity View Community Association, Montgomery Place Varsity View Community Association. City Nature Challenge Saskatoon CNC YXE 2024 led by Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas.

A human being is part of the whole called by us universe … We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.
Albert Einstein