Wild Bergamot

Winner at the Oscars 2017 for "Best Animated Short Film", was "Piper", a short (3.20 minutes) animated film about a baby Sandpiper. So cute!

youtu.be/8VS7wR7gjJE

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On 9 July 2015, an extremely hot day, five of us had the chance to botanize the beautiful 320 acres belonging to philanthropist, David Bissett and his wife. This land, roughly half wooded, with several small ponds in the open area, lies SW of Calgary. For anyone not sure what "botanizing" involves, we visit someone's property for the day, listing every single species of plant and tree, bird, insect, fungus, lichen, moss, liverwort, etc. that we find. It is always a win/win situation, as we are lucky enough to have the chance to explore a new area and the landowner receives a highly detailed list of everything found on his land.

"Wild bergamot or bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) is a wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda_fistulosa

www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOFI

David Bissett's giving to community causes, especially education, has been a hallmark of his philanthropy. He has donated to a wide range of community cultural organizations, and he has a passion for wildlife conservation. Just one of his endless donations resulted in the creation of the Bissett Wetlands at Heritage Park here in the city, a popular educational destination.

calgary.ctvnews.ca/inspired-to-give-1.676279

mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Busine...