Canada Day at Pinery Park

Butterfly Weed and a touch of Saskatchewan

What to expect:

Pinery Provincial Park offers visitors walking trails through a large tract of Oak Savanna. This is one of the few remaining Oak Savanna ecosystems left in Canada.

We visit the park annually. For almost 20 years, on July 1st , my husband’s family gathers to celebrate Canada Day at Pavilion 9 within the park’s day use area. This is not your average potluck picnic. My husband is one of 14 siblings. Think lots of hamburgers, salads, pies, and many jars of Aunt Ludy’s famous home-made relish. Add babies, a giant volleyball net, and drip coffee made with freshly ground beans on a Coleman stove. Also, think wildflowers!

The park is located on the shores of Lake Huron near Grand Bend. Our family has walked many of the easy, shady trails. Some paths are wheelchair accessible. The park has a lengthy bike trail.  

 Wildflowers (on Canada Day):

Photo 1 & 3 : You’ll see the bright orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). It is a variable milkweed and not seen much elsewhere in Ontario. In fact, I have not seen it anywhere else but in Pinery.

Photo 2:

Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Photo 4: (photo coming)

You’ll also see the orange Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum). Unlike many other lilies, this flower faces upward. It’s also the provincial flower of Saskatchewan.  

 When to go:

The park can get quite crowded on Canada Day weekend. Flowers listed here will bloom for most of July.  

How to get there:

For more information about Pinery Provincial Park and to make camping reservation,  click http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/pine.html