But always a botanist....

Newest endeavours this month, aside from volunteer work with plant collections, is the organization of Botanaria. While I have not decided if I shall register this as a company name, I have considered it. In the hopes of teaching a short course in plant identification, I thought it prudent to set something in place. Business cards are in hand and a new email address has been acquired. Perhaps I will return to consulting or maybe just blogging.

Either way, I will always remain a botanist. I have had countless hours of solitary joy, discovering new corners of Nova Scotia. I have lost track of the number of lakes I have sloshed around, waded through or paddled. Last count was over 300.

Sadly I spent the last 10 years desk-bound, with little field work to escape the day to day routine. Perhaps retirement will change that. We shall see how the first season unfolds. I will continue to increase my knowledge of plants and the use of their extracts. Some of you will know that 3 years ago I started a soap company. Vegan, the only animal involved, is me. I do test all potential products on my own sensitive skin.

Up to 75 different products are available, all vegan, most using pure organic extracts and base oils. Colours are mineral-based or plant extracts, with no artifical scents nor colours. Available through Lodestone Soap Co .

I am thrilled to have so many beautifully captured products, photographed by my friend and muse Jodi DeLong.

welcome 2018!

Hello good folks:

I see I have neglected this blog for slightly more than a year. Facebook is responsible for that! I seem to have a separate page for  plants, painting, postcards and now even for myself.

This month, January 2018, sees my retirement. Effective February 1, I become the former Curator of Botany at the Nova Scotia Museum. I have been looking forward to new adventures for a while. Many opportunities have come my way since 2013. I hope to continue to draw the positive karma of the universe going forward.

There are a few links I want to share. These are products that I created in the last couple of years. They are free for you to download or use.

https://ojs.library.dal.ca/NSM/pages/view/Plants

is the latest flora for Nova Scotia. It is free to download but not an app. Due to its size it is best used on a computer (120MG).

https://www.usefulnovascotiaplants.com

is an app developed by Gordon Isnor. I provided content. Available for iPhone, Android or desktop.

https://www.harmfulnovascotiaplants.com

another app Gordon and I collaborated to release. And available on all platforms.