Author Archives: shona

Salmonberry Days Walk and Festival

Posted on May 28, 2013 by shona

May 14, 2013 I took a group of enthusiastic folk on a walk for Salmonberry Days (Dunbar Residence Associate) to Camosun Bog and adjacent woodlands to look at mosses and their kin.  It was a fabulous day! May 26, 2013 Lacey … Continue reading →

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Integrating Sustainability into Courses

Posted on December 17, 2012 by shona

As part of the sustainability project we are working on helping faculty integrate sustainability into their courses.  There are quite a few examples of how to develop sustainability-based activities, but not very much on integration.  I decided to start with … Continue reading →

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Porcupine tomato

Posted on October 19, 2012 by shona

Solanum pyracanthos or S. pyracanthrum (Gk: pyro = fire, akantha = thorn) is native to tropical Africa and Madagascar.  I came across this lovely specimen in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at the University of Los Angeles.  Prickles develop on the leaves and … Continue reading →

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Interview!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by shona

I was recently interviewed for the first edition of the CTLT Newsletter.  The interview was based on my recent promotion to Professor of Teaching. Check it out! Faculty Spotlight – Shona Ellis, Professor of Teaching

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Cypress Mountain

Posted on September 8, 2012 by shona

  There are lots of cool trails up at Cypress to check out.             There are lots of great plants to look at along the trail.  Many of the wet, seepy slopes are good places … Continue reading →

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Veratrum viride

Posted on September 3, 2012 by shona

Veratrum viride is known as Indian hellebore.  It is not a true hellebore; it belongs to the Melanthiaceae, not Ranunculaceae.  This picture was taken on the road to Rennell Sound on Haida Gwaii.         It is found … Continue reading →

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Monkeying Around

Posted on July 31, 2012 by shona

There are lots of monkey puzzle trees around Vancouver.   Araucaria araucana belongs to the Araucariaceae, an ancient lineage of conifer.  It is native to Chile and Argentina (it is the national tree of Chile).  This picture was taken at VanDusen Garden. … Continue reading →

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Vancouver from Above

Posted on July 25, 2012 by shona

Being a tourist in your own town is lots of fun.  To celebrate a wedding anniversary we headed up to Cloud Nine to take a look at our hood.  Here are some picts from high above.  

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Mullein in Stanley Park

Posted on July 24, 2012 by shona

  I am not sure what species of Verbascum this is, but it was really lovely!  Even though the Scrophulariaceae has recently undergone a major downsizing Verbascum remains within the family.           The flowers have 5 … Continue reading →

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Thailand

Posted on July 21, 2012 by shona

We have been to Thailand numerous times.  My favourite botanical find was the magnificent flower of Rafflesi kerrii (second to Rafflesia arnoldii as the largest flower in the world).  We were really lucky!  We were told the plant would not … Continue reading →

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