From Planet Earth
Calendar
River of Ice; Glaciers have grown and shrunk repeatedly
over the last million years. Presently,
Earth is in a relatively warm period, called an interglacial, resulting
in the retreat of glaciers. As part of
its evolutionary cycle, Earth has been plunged into cold episodes, called glacials,
in which the extent of glaciers is expanded. These glacials are commonly called
“ice ages”. Glaciers don't just freeze
and thaw like ice on a pond. As they
gain mass, they actually “flow like a river of ice.” The fastest flowing glacier in the world
today is Jakobshavn Isbrae in Greenland.
Measurements taken over a 20 year period showed flow rates ranging from
3.5 miles per year to almost 8 miles per year.
Glaciers are important to the planet in many ways. They have carved out many of Earth's
features. Glacial ice is also the
largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth.
Did You Know?
(from the Canadian
Wildlife Federation Calendar)
The large colourful Swallowtail
Butterfly is found across Canada and is a common visitor in many
gardens. Their name comes from their
unique tails which can resemble the forked tails of swallows.
More than 80% of ocean pollution
is caused by human activity on land. To
help our aquatic and marine life, CWF celebrates “Rivers to Oceans” week. Learn how to help at RiverstoOceans.ca.
Shorebirds, called Red Knots
can be seen migrating through eastern Canada as they travel 16,000 kilometres
from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to southern Argentina. One bird, referred to as “B95” made the trip
20 times!
Gardening Advice
Plant Milkweed to help
save the Monarch Butterflies. The number
of these beautiful insects who migrate an incredible 64,800 km every year is at
a record low. Milkweed is crucial to the
Monarchs' survival. The plant is
commonly grown in fields and open spaces...but increasing development and use
of herbicides have taken a serious toll.
Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed and is the only food plant
which the caterpillars eat. The
milkweed has a beautiful pale mauve flower...in addition to its worthy
butterfly effect. Even a weed...can
become a beloved plant. (Excerpts from Toronto Star)
Honeysuckle draws
Hummingbirds and Butterflies. It is a
climber with the perfect amount of vigour for arbours, trellises, banisters and
pillars. It feeds hummingbirds and butterflies with nectar. The flowers are not only extraordinary, but
the vine blooms off and on throughout
the growing season.
Message from the
Canadian Red Cross
Drowning deaths are
preventable. Supervision of children is
key at home or on vacation. Supervision
by adults is the best protection possible
for children...even those who can swim!
MADD Fact
Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year...more
than all illegal drugs combined.
Niagara Falls and
Great Gorge
(from Niagara Falls
of Canada
2014 Calendar)
Aerial photo of
the Canadian Horseshoe Falls
as a Maid of the
Mist tour boat approaches the spray.
Water crashing over the Falls drops
52 metres (170 feet) into a basin that is as deep as the Falls are high. More than 168,000 cubic metres (6 million
cubic feet) of water can go over the Falls every minute ~ enough to fill ONE
MILLION BATHTUBS.
Special Event Days
June 5 (Thursday) ~ World
Environmental Day
June 6 (Friday) ~ 70th Anniversary of D-Day
June 8-14 (Sun. to
Sat.) ~ Canadian Environmental Week
June 15 (Sunday) ~
Father's Day
June 15-21 (Sun. to
Sat.) Rivers to Oceans Week
June 20 (Friday) ~
World Refugee Day
June 21 (Sat.) ~
Summer Solstice & National Aboriginal Day
June Musings
If a June night
could talk,
it would probably
boast that it invented romance.
(Bern William)
It is dry hazy
weather...we are more of the earth,
farther from
heaven these days.
(Henry David
Thoreau)
The air is like a
butterfly with frail blue wings;
The happy earth
looks at the sky...and sings.
(Joyce Kilmer)
It is better to be
a young June-bug
than an old
bird-of-paradise.
(Mark Twain)
Roses are red,
violets are blue;
But they don't get
around like dandelions do.
(Slim Acre)
Flower and
Garden Philosophy
Happiness is to
hold flowers in both hands.
(Japanese Proverb)
Merle
Baird-Kerr...compiled May 4, 2014
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