Photos of Jack Pine Barrens in the |
| There has been very little human activity in the areas depicted in the photos for some time which was reflected in the cover of most exposed rock surfaces by snow-like reindeer lichens and green carpets of broom crowberry. The huckleberry was in its full fall, vivid red colours, interrupted here and there by the dark green of inkberry. The mostly open canopy jack pines give the landscape a savannah-like ambiance... We had the feeling of being in a very unusual and very special place. |
Many thanks to Doug and Brad and HFN for this wonderful day and to the Nature Conservacy of Canada for establishing and maintaining the Deep Cove Nature Reserve.
- David Patriquin
Nationally Unique & Globally Rare
The combination of the boreal jack pine and the southern broom crowberry occurs only on scattered rocky barrens along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, and in a few locales in Maine. Thus this plant community type is nationally unique and globally rare. Inkberry is another southern component that is quite common in these communities at Deep Cove, mixed with black huckleberry. It is found more fleetingly eastward of the Aspotogon Peninsula.
Role of Fire
Both jack pine and broom crowberry are highly adapted to and even dependent on recurrent fires which are uncommon in our Acadian forest region except on highly droughty landscapes such as these exposed rock barrens. There was some regeneration of jack pine going on in the absence of fire at some sites in the Deep Cove lands as evidenced by the open cones on old jack pines and presence of seedlings, while at others, cones were mostly closed (serotinous), and seedlings were not seen. The last large fire in the area was apparently in the 1950s.
More Info.
- Deep Cove (NCC Property) & Map
- Deep Cove land protected from development (Canadian Press Report, 2008)
- Blandford Nature Reserve Ecological Site Designation (2007) and Expansion (2014)
- Nova Scotia establishes Blandford Nature Reserve (CPAWS Report, 2008)
- Blandford, Nova Scotia
- Celebrating Broom Crowberry
- A Rare, Fire-Dependent Pine Barrens at the
Wildland-Urban Interface of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Click on photos for larger versions
