The public is invited to celebrate Arbour Day with a guided woodland walk at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell. Arbour Day is an annual international event that recognizes the value of trees in both our urban and rural areas, and on Prince Edward Island is held on May 16. The walk, led by staff of the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project, begins at 6pm and will focus on all things related to native trees and shrubs.

With many of our woody plants leafing out, this is an ideal opportunity to learn more about how to identify native plants, attract wildlife and restore forests. Some plants, such as the American fly honeysuckle and red maples, naturally awaken early from their winter sleep. Bluebead lily, trilliums and starflowers are starting to poke their heads out of the ground. Most of our migrant songbirds have returned to the woodlands as well.

The walk begins at the nursery, and will continue along the Homestead trails. Participants will learn easy tips for distinguishing a wide variety of species throughout the year. The nursery and arboretum offer a close look at different types of maples, dogwoods, elders, pines and many species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and ferns. Many larger specimens of our native trees can be found along the woodland trails.

There is no admission for the workshop and everyone is welcome. Please be sure to bring clothes suitable to weather conditions.

The workshop is part of an extensive series of outdoor activities at Macphail Woods, a project of the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island and the Sir Andrew Macphail Foundation. For more information on this or upcoming tours and workshops, please contact Gary Schneider at 651-2575.