Interesting Programs in Provincial Parks 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Have you been looking for something a little different to do on your vacation 
     
     or day off this year. Two programs are now in place which might be of interest. 
     
    
   
   
    
     BEES- These stinging beasties elicit fear in most of us, yet we spread their 
     
     stolenwinterfood supply on our toast almost daily. Neuldn't it be interesting 
     
    

    
     to be able to see how the bees transform the nectar into honey or see the intricate 
     
     hierarchy and workings of a hive, without any chance of being stung. Well this 
     
    

    
     is possible at Cabot Park and Mill River Provincial Parks. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     We have constructed small buildings into which the bee hive is partially inserted. 
     
     The portion of the hive within the building is largely glass so you can see the 
     
     bees at work. The naturalist will explain the workings of the hive, and show you 
     
     the differentkinds of bees - workers, drones, and perhaps even the queen herself. 
     
     You will be shown how the honey is extracted and prepared for your toast. This 
     
     will involve giving you a piece of honeycomb to better see the honey cells and 
     
     learn how the bees store their winter food supply. Best of all you can then eat 
     
     this piece of honeycomb containing honey — some good! If you are especially fond 
     
     of the park honey you may want to participate in some of the other park programs 
     
     such as campfires and sand sculpture contests where the prizes include small 
     
     bottles of honey. 
     
    
   
   
    
     NILDFLOWER GARDEN TRAIL - Have you wandered through the woods, wondering what some 
     
     of those beautiful plants were, or wished there was a place where most of the 
     
     Island's rare or interesting plants, such as Lady Slippers, Trilliums, Jack-in-the— 
     
     Pulpits were all present in one spot? Both of these objectives can be achieved with 
     
     a trip to Brudenell River Provincial Park where we have combined with the Island 
     
     Nature Trust, to develop a trail encompassing a wide variety of habitats and plants. 
     
     The site was carefully chosen to provide habitat for as many different types of 
     
     plants as possible. The habitats include hardwoods, mixed woods, softwoods, old 
     
     fields, a fresh water marsh, salt water marsh and stream valley. The area was 
     
    

    
     also selected because it has some of the trees typical of P E I.'s old forests; 
     
     sugar maple, yellow birch and large white pines. So if you want to improve your 
     
     knowledge of P.E.I.'s plants and enjoy a beautiful walk at the same time, why not 
     
     spend an afternoon at Brudenell River. Many plants were present, and these have 
     
     been identified through plaques. Other plants were transplanted to the site in 
     
     order that people could get maximum benefit from this "garden", which is the only 
     
     one of its kind in Canada, a naturalist conducts tours over the trail 5 days per 
     
     week, Wednesday through Sunday. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Because older folk who may be a little concerned about walking in bumpy wooded 
     
     areas, and those with walking difficulties are so often neglected, a major portion 
     
     of the trail is boardwalked to meet the requirements of wheelchairs. Thus if you 
     
     have a friend or relative who hasn't had a chance to get out into the forest and 
     
     smell the flowers, hear the birds sing and leaves rustling, or feel the bark and 
     
     moss, this trail is your perfect opportunity. 
     
    
   
   
    
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