Opal Wildfire Update #11

June 4, 2010

My Dad was anything but a conservationist.  In his heart he was a heavy-equipment operator and a grain farmer.  In his world the best topography was one that was flat.  We kids used to joke saying that if we gave Dad enough diesel fuel and a big bulldozer the whole world would end up as flat as a tabletop.

Now Clem Harke (my wife Vera's Dad) was a conservationist.  Clem worked for Alberta Lands and Forests in the 1950's,'60's and '70's.  Along with many of his colleagues, Clem thought it would be a good idea to set some of Alberta's land apart and to save these properties for future generations.  Recognizing a good idea when they saw it the provincial government of the day drafted an Order in Council and gave these lands to the people of Alberta and to future generations.  They called these lands NATURAL AREAS and they belong to you, to me, to our grandchildren and to their grandchildren.

I was 12 years old when I first went for a walk-about on a couple of these sites (that's a half a century ago).  They were not yet called Natural Areas -- they were just big hills that the homesteaders had not wanted.  They were called the Ghost Horse Hills and from the top of one of the hills I could see for miles.  Years later I took my new bride to the top of that hill.  The view was the same as it always had been.  Years later we took each of our three sons up to Look-out Point.  Nothing had changed.  It was still quiet and beautiful and the view filled your eyes.  Even today with subdivisions and paved roads the view remains the same -- ponds, trees and the beautiful countryside spreading out below.

I now have three grandchildren.  To them I'm Pops.  God willing, one day Pops will take them into the Halfmoon Lake and Opal Natural Areas and from the top of that hill I will be able to show them a piece of Alberta that was gifted to them.  There are Natural Areas all over Alberta.  They are an important piece of our culture and should be kept as such.

Here's a small sample of what is to be seen in the Halfmoon Lake Natural Area.

Richard

The area is a great place for bird watchers.  This grouse is just one of the many species that call this area home.

I'm told that this is a Canadian Toad.  Handsome devil.  Calls Halfmoon Lake Natural Area his home.

In season this site is blanketed with hundreds of flowers  like this bunch seen here.

This butterfly has been attracted to one of the wood lilies that are common on this site.

This shot is from Look-out Point.  The white speck in the middle is the historic St. Mary's church.

This shot (also from Look-out Point) shows the leaves starting to turn in early fall.