I know it’s only been a day, but I was lax last week and was really late getting the blog posted. But a lot has happened in the last seven days. Over this past week we’ve seen our first children’s program, had canoe training and are gearing up to welcome the last of our staff.

Our first official children’s program of the year, Brady’s Winged Weirdos, was a flying success. It took off with 19 kids performing the American Woodcock dance and soared to a melodious ending with a beak-utiful rendition of the song “Where’s Your Nest At?” (look for this tune on our upcoming CD – The Wailings of the Staff). Terrible puns aside, the kids had a great time running around learning all about some of the odder birds that make Rondeau their home.

For those of you who were gracing the shores of Rondeau Bay this past week, you may have been treated to synchronized flailing of the Rondeau Canoe Team. That’s right, in the cool embrace of Rondeau Bay, our staff were furiously practicing J-strokes, back paddles, draws and canoe-over-canoe rescues. I’m pleased to say we have a well qualified staff who are keen to bring everyone out on a paddle through the marsh. Our first trip of the summer is this upcoming Sunday, so book your spot now.

I’m also excited to have the final two staff members join us this Monday. Breanne and Tara will round out the Visitor Centre team. Breanne is returning for her second year and Tara is making her NHE debut. We are all excited about having a full team and I hope you will all come out and join us in welcoming them to Rondeau.

Everyone knows that if you want to see the best wildflower showing, you have to go out in the early spring before the leaves are out on the trees. But just because the peak wildflower season has come and gone, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any impressive flowers out there. I’d like to draw your attention to the MEGAMINTS. In general, the plants in the mint family are small and demure. However, there are exceptions to the rule. We have two of these megamints in Rondeau; Wild Bergamot and Oswego Tea. These plants can grow up to 5 feet tall, with bright purple or red flowers. Definitely something you won’t overlook.

Wild Bergamot is the more common of the two species. The purple flower head is made up of several long skinny flowers that look like the end of a logger’s pike pole. For a long time I had been told that Bergamot was responsible for the flavour in Earl Grey Tea. While it is true that the flavour does come from Bergamot, it isn’t from our Wild Bergamot. Our Bergamot got it’s name because it smells very similar to a plant that grows near Bergamo, Italy – the Bergamot Orange (which is the true source of Earl Grey Tea). However, if you mix Wild Bergamot with regular black tea you will still get that familiar Earl Grey flavour. The real claim to fame for both Wild Bergamot and Oswego Tea came from Boston Tea Party of 1773. Both plants became commonly used as a substitute to the boycotted British tea.

Oswego Tea is also known as Bee Balm. This plant looks very similar to Wild Bergamot except that it is scarlet red instead of purple. Not only does this plant seem really attractive to us, it’s also a favourite of hummingbirds. Red is one of the hummingbird’s favourite colours and the pike shaped flowers are perfect for small birds that can hover and have a long tongue to reach the nectar deep inside. The name Oswego Tea comes from 1743. John Bartram, a botanist, learned about the flower at Fort Oswego in New York. The Native-Americans in the area were using the plant to make a medicinal tea to treat chills and fevers. By combining the name of the fort with the use as a tea the name Oswego Tea was born. However, the word Oswego was in fact the native name of the nearby river. The name Bee Balm also refers to its medicinal properties. A poultice of this plant was used to relieve insect stings and bites.

Teatotalleringly Yours

Kip